Moving to a new home in a new city can be an exciting time. But for a child, saying goodbye to friends and leaving behind all that is familiar can be traumatic and stressful. Parents can do a lot to ease the pain by remaining upbeat, involving the kids as much as possible in the move and, most importantly, being available to talk about the feelings that are bound to arise when making such a big change.

While nothing a parent can do will completely take the sting out of moving, a sure-fire way to ramp up the excitement is to throw a great party. A goodbye party done right celebrates the future while acknowledging what is being left behind. Here are some ideas for throwing a memorable going away party for your child.

Invitations: Whether your make your own invitations or purchase store-bought ones, make it clear that it is a going away party and that gifts are not required. Instead, ask your guests to decorate an empty moving box for your child to use when packing his things.

Theme: When considering a theme, look no further than your destination. Big or small, most places are known for something. If you're moving to Texas, think about a cowboy theme. New York? Broadway and big apples. If you can't come up with something about your new home that lends itself to a theme, go with a simple moving theme using boxes, packing supplies and other moving-related items to decorate the party space.

Food: Simple food is always best at a kid's party. If you are moving somewhere that is known for a particular cuisine, try to include that on the menu. And since it's not a party without a cake, make or order one that fits your theme.

Activities: Rather than traditional games, plan activities that let your childs' friends create some portable memories. Place an address book and a pen at the entrance to the party space so your guests can write down their information. Make sure the book includes a space for birth dates and email addresses. A going away party may very well be the last time your child sees many of her friends; take time to make lasting memories with scrapbooks. On a table, set out loose sheets of large scrapbooking paper, pens, stickers and other embellishments and ask each guest to make a memory page for your child. Before they get started, have them glue or tape a smaller piece of scrapbooking paper to the page and instruct them to leave it blank. Once your are in your new home, your child can read the special messages while attaching photos of the friends who created the pages. And finally, get out the video camera and have each child take turns sharing a special memory about your child.

Party Favors: Party favors aren't necessary, but a goody bag provides an opportunity to send your guests home with a little memento of their friend. Include a small photo of your child in an inexpensive frame along with a hand-written note. To encourage your child's friends to keep in touch, purchase a supply of postcards featuring the city you are leaving and address them to your new home. Add a stamp and include one in each goody bag. Your child will be delighted to receive these in the mail once you've settled into your new home.