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So you've landed a new job or received a promotion. Congratulations! But now comes the hard part: breaking the news to your spouse and kids.

For children, moving can be very difficult: They'll be leaving what may be the only home they have ever known to move to a place they may know nothing about.

Even if moving with your family isn't a new thing, it doesn't necessarily get any easier. That's because the older the kids are, the harder it is for them to say goodbye to their friends.

One of the first considerations after making the decision to move is when to tell your children. Lori Collins Burgan, the author of Moving With Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family's Transition to a New Home, says this depends on many things, including their age and whether they have any say in the matter.

"With older kids, parents sometimes let them have input; in that case, you need to talk (about it) right upfront. Let them know it's a possibility," she says. Of course, you don't want to risk upsetting your children with a discussion until you are committed to the idea of moving.

When debating the timing of telling your kids about the move, there is one big factor: "It's so important that they hear it from you first," says Collins Burgan. According to the author, a surprising number of parents put their children in a position where they might learn about the move by accident. Many times, her friends have casually mentioned that they are planning to move, and when she asks how their children feel about it, they say the children haven't been told.

Making sure your children hear about the move from you before anyone else shows that you respect them and their feelings. Also, children trust their parents to keep them apprised of important things that affect their lives. This trust could be damaged if they learn about the move through some outside source.

Once you've decided when to break the news, you need to think about how you're going to do it. The announcement is likely to be traumatic, so pick a private setting. Also, try to minimize interruptions by turning off cell phones and the television.

Collins Burgan says that when she and her family have moved in the past, she and her husband generally set aside an evening for a "family meeting." They let the children express their feelings about the move, and then they would have a general discussion about the new place.

"When the kids were younger we would list all of their questions. We could answer some and we'd commit to get answers (for the rest)," she says.

By taking care in how and when you tell your children about the move, you can set the tone for your relocation: Yes, the place where you will be moving is different, but you will make it through as a family.

This article was written by Allison Bisbey Colter, a contributor to Relocation.com, a leading provider of moving quotes and information on moving companies.

GO TO: Part 1: Get Started

GO TO: Part 2: Plan and Pack

GO TO: Part 3: Moving Day

GO TO: Part 4: Settle In

GO TO: Moving Guide

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