Helping Children Manage a Relocation

The stress of moving can be difficult on its own. Trying to figure out exactly what needs to happen and making sure everything goes according to plan is a hassle. You can feel all the pressure coming down on you, but you are not the only one the move is affecting. You cannot forget how the radical change will stress your children. As a parent, sometimes you must put their needs before your own.

Get them involved!

It is vital to involve your child in your moving plans. Keeping them informed will help them cope with the move. Children may feel left out or left behind as they watch you packing the house. Younger children may even feel as though you are going to leave them. It is imperative that you ensure the child that they are coming with you. You may ask them to help pack, especial the things most valuable to them personally. Since children have little or no control over where they live, moving is often times very difficult for them to accept. You should keep them involved throughout the move. Take them to look at prospective houses and locations. Before you make the move, get to know the area you will be moving to. For children, knowing where places like the park, school and the movie theatre (depending on your children’s preferences) are may help them feel more secure about the change.

The fear of losing their friends can dramatically affect a child. You should ensure them that distance is not a factor in friendship. The technology that this day and age offers, allow us to interact with one another, regardless of location. It will help them cope with the dramatic change that occurs during relocation. You should try to ensure that your child will stay in contact with their old friends through letters, phone, or the internet. The tools of communication are here to help you.

Adjust and communicate

New schools can sometimes put some of the biggest pressure on a child. They may fear that they are not going to fit in, or can’t make new friends. If possible, ask the school to provide a partner in the same age group. Your child may better adapt to the change, if they feel that they are involved in society. This would offer a variety of chances that your kid may not be able to discover on their own. Being accepted by new peers is probably one of the best ways that the child will cope with the move.

After the initial move, your child, or children, may still be unsettled. If they seem to be far too depressed or withdrawn, you could try staying home for a longer period of time if your job permits you. You may also try visiting them for lunch at school (until they ask you not to because you’re embarrassing them). The fact that you are there for them when they need you, will often sooth their stress. Children fear abandonment, and if you can eliminate that factor, they can adjust to just about anything else.

by:
Kristi Hennessey