Do not sugar coat a grim situation. Do not exaggerate. Keep children informed of a problem that will directly affect them. Maintain rituals of comfort. Dinnertime at the kitchen table, a bedtime story, an afternoon nap or a favorite teddy at bedtime provide young children with a sense of security.
Older children have their own rituals too.
Watching TV in the afternoon or visiting with friends provides a similar sense of stability. Crisis activity and relocation can cause severe stress with any person because of the disruption of the familiar. Identify these rituals of comfort for children and do what you can to maintain them during disruptive times. Reassure children about the family's safety. Because they find it difficult to understand complex situations, young children can easily exaggerate their normal fear of being separated from their parents.