Moving? Fun? Not many people would put those two words in the same sentence, but the truth is they should - especially when children are involved. After all, despite the chaos and frustration that moving brings, there's also an underlying current of excitement. For parents, that excitement presents a wonderful opportunity.

When we give children the tools they need to successfully handle a move, we show them how to view change in a positive light. "Moving gives children an opportunity to acquire new skills, to meet challenges head on and succeed," says Deborah Crockett, Ph.D., NCSP, a former President of the National Association of School Psychologists. And those are lessons that will stay with them for life.

As with most things, the key to a successful move is preparation. The more control children have over the process, the less anxious they'll be and the more they can relax and have fun. Following are some of my favorite pre-moving activities, as well as those that have worked for other seasoned movers. Some of them may require a little extra scheduling, but, trust me, the results are worth it!

 Talk About It.

Admit to your child that moving is difficult. "Everybody needs to acknowledge that there will be some experience of loss, some anxiety about what's new," says Crockett. Doing so lets your child know his feelings are normal. Once you acknowledge the downside of moving, you can begin to focus on the positive.

 Read Together.

Reading together helps children see how others handle moving. It also encourages them to explore their own thoughts. Some of our favorite books: Goodbye House by Frank Asch; Boomer's Big Day by Constance W. McGeorge; Amelia's Notebook by Marrisa Moss; The Kid in the Red Jacket by Barbara Park.

 Create a Keepsake.

Help your child remember treasured times in his/her old home. Draw an outline of a house on a piece of construction paper. Include lots of windows and doors to cut open. Help your child collect photos of himself/herself, friends, and family. Clip pictures of favorite foods, places, animals, and activities from magazines and brochures. Help tape these things onto a large piece of cardboard so that they show through the open windows and doors when the "house" is placed on top.

 Generate Excitement.

When Sandra Garcia moved from California to Connecticut with her son, Raphael, she told him he would get to see snow for the first time ever. What does your child have to look forward to? His own room? A nearby amusement park? Talk these things up! Invite your child to make a "Things To Look Forward To" poster. Have each family member add at least one new idea every week before the move.

 Fill Up a New Home Box.

Whenever Candy Blough moves with her four girls, she collects all the information she can about their new home (town maps, photographs, local brochures). The more her kids know about the place they're moving to, she says, the more easily they can imagine living there. Have your child decorate a New Home Box. Help her fill it with information about her new home, school, and other local spots.

 Make Goodbye Gifts.

Just before our last move, my daughter's friend gave her a "friendship rock" decorated with beads and glitter. Eva took that rock everywhere. It was one of the first things on her night table in our new home. Ease your child's good-byes by helping him make simple gifts to give his friends. Some ideas: a picture of himself in a homemade frame, a story or poem recounting a favorite friendship memory, a handmade card or drawing.

 Send Yourselves Some Happy Wishes.

When we arrived at our new home in Connecticut, we were greeted by a letter in our mailbox from some friendly well-wishers - us! Invite your child to write his/her own letter welcoming them to your new home. Mail it a few days before you move. Mail a surprise package filled with small gifts or fun coupons such as "Video of Your Choice," "No Chores for a Day", or "Family Pizza Night."

 Pack a Travel Bag.

Fill a cheerful tote with yummy snacks, new crayons, coloring books, travel games, and other fun surprises. There's just one catch: No one gets to touch it until moving day!

Gabriel Davis has moved over five times with her family and is the author of The Moving Book, A Kids' Survival Guide.