Six guided play therapy activities to help your child (ages 2-5) process a major move — new home, new city, or new school. Honor their fear, sadness, and excitement as they navigate this big transition.
Moving is one of the most disorienting experiences for young children. Their whole world — the texture of their bedroom walls, the sound of the neighbor's dog, the route to the park — is about to change. And they didn't choose it.
Children ages 2-5 can't tell you "I'm scared I won't make friends" or "I'm worried I'll forget our old house." Instead, they cling. They refuse to pack. They have meltdowns. They act out or go silent. All of these responses are their way of saying: "Help me make sense of this."
These activities aren't about making your child excited to move. They're about creating space where their loss is real, their fear is valid, and they know — deeply — that what matters most (you, their love, their safety) is coming with them.
You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to listen, truly hear them, and hold space for all their feelings — even the hard ones.
No special toys required. Here's what to gather before starting.
Moving boxes for storytelling & play
Role-play moving day & comfort objects
Drawing homes, maps, and feelings
Build old house, new house, neighborhood
Create comfort spaces during transition
Memory rituals & goodbye activities
Create maps of old and new places
Shape feelings & sensory grounding
Feelings puppets to express emotions
Books about moving or change (if you have)
Walk through your current home and say goodbye to each special spot
Use boxes and toys to act out the move and process feelings
Imagine and draw their new space to build excitement and ownership
Give voice to all the mixed emotions — fear, sadness, excitement
Create a special comfort object that travels with them
Explore and discover new special places together
$8.99/month gives you everything: all 6 guided activities with therapist-informed guides, parent scripts, step-by-step instructions, reflection prompts, and materials lists.
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Already subscribed? Verify accessWhat to expect: Your child may linger in certain rooms, touch walls, sit in familiar spots. They might cry, or they might seem surprisingly matter-of-fact. Both are normal. This isn't about "closure" — it's about honoring that this place mattered.
What to say: "Let's walk through our home and say goodbye to all your favorite places. We can tell each room 'thank you' for keeping us safe." Keep it gentle and open.
What NOT to say: "Don't be sad, the new house will be even better!" or "You'll forget about this place soon." Let them grieve what they're losing without rushing to the next thing.
What to expect: Your child will likely re-enact the move using toys and boxes. They might make characters pack, get lost, feel scared, or refuse to go. This is how they're making sense of something they can't control.
What to say: Narrate their play without judgment: "Oh, the bear is packing his toys. He looks worried." Mirror their emotions so they feel seen.
What NOT to say: "That's not how moving works" or "You're making it too sad." In play therapy, their version of the story is the right one.
What to expect: If you've seen the new place, they can draw what they remember. If not, they can imagine it. This activity gives them agency — they get to picture where THEY will be, what THEIR room looks like. It's a form of control in a situation where they have little.
What to say: "Let's draw your new home! Where will your bed go? What color will your walls be? What can you see from your window?"
What NOT to say: "That's not what it actually looks like" (if they get details wrong). Let their imagination fill in the gaps — it helps them feel less powerless.
What to expect: Your child likely has a swirl of feelings — excitement, sadness, fear, anger, curiosity. These can all exist at the same time. This activity helps them name and honor each one without judgment.
What to say: "Some kids feel sad about leaving their old house AND excited about the new house. Both feelings can be true at the same time."
What NOT to say: "You should be excited!" or "There's nothing to be scared of." Let every feeling have a voice.
What to expect: Transitional objects (a special stuffed animal, blanket, or item) help children carry a sense of safety from one place to another. This activity gives your child agency to choose and prepare their "moving buddy."
What to say: "Let's pick something special that will travel with you the whole time. This will be your Moving Buddy — it stays with you no matter what."
What NOT to say: "You're too old for a stuffed animal." During major transitions, comfort objects are developmentally appropriate and necessary.
What to expect: This activity is best done AFTER you've moved, but you can also do it in imagination beforehand. The goal is to help your child see the new place as full of possibility, not just loss.
What to say: "Let's go on an adventure and find all the new special places. Where do you think the best hiding spot is? Where's the best place to see the sky?"
What NOT to say: "See, it's way better here!" Comparison to the old place can backfire. Let the new place speak for itself.
Moving shakes a child's world. But you? You stay constant. These activities aren't just about making the move easier — they're about showing your child that no matter where you are, no matter how much changes, they are heard, held, and deeply loved. That's what makes a place home.
Return to these activities as often as needed during and after the move. Your child will adjust on their own timeline, and your presence is exactly what they need.
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