5. Keeping in Touch
Even though it may be cold outside, it shouldn’t stop kids from enjoying their friendships before they leave. Before moving out, make sure children have a proper goodbye to their friends at school and in the neighborhood – it does make a difference. Below are a few simple ideas that could help kids feel connected to people they are leaving behind.
- Ornaments – Have an ornament exchange with a fun group of kids. It’s great way to stay connected and build memories for years to come. Buy a few dozen blank ball ornaments and write your contact information on the ornament with a Sharpie. It’s a cute and creative way to connect with other military families and friends through the holidays – consider it your Holiday card!
- Have a goodbye party! Don’t let the cold stop you from throwing a party. A bowling alley, group painting class, laser tag, community center or indoor swimming are great places for kids to have fun. It’s important to make the goodbye’s fun and not sad. Leaving with laughter is easier than leaving with tears.
- Technology – FaceTime, Skype, and Facebook all offer online video chatting. Make sure to gather all contact information and have kids practice a time or two chatting with each other.
- Online games – There are dozens of great online games that children of all ages can play together, even if they are continents a part. The younger ones can play safe games like Animal Jam and Wizards 101. Older kids can use their games for Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox to stay in touch with their friends. We have some Tech-Savvy kids to work with here!
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