Relocating Your Family? What To Consider
Although children can be resilient, much must be done to protect their emotional well-being as they learn and grow. Otherwise, they may become socially or emotionally stunted. When it comes to moving, the challenges of switching schools, leaving behind friends and everything else accompanying the big change can be detrimental to their well-being. Such detriments not only have short-term effects, but potentially long-term ones as well.
That’s why it’s essential for parents to do all they can to ease the transition for their kids. Below, we’ll go over what the data says on these potential impacts as well as ways to help make an upcoming relocation easier for your little ones.
How Children Might Be Impacted by Moving
The impact of moving during childhood has been widely studied. Psychologists and other health professionals have looked into the influence this stressful transition has on kids, specifically on their educational, social and emotional development. The findings, of course, are varied as each child is unique but have documented some trends.
The data shows moving has generally the greatest impacts on children between the ages of six and 10. Studies show this is caused by the disruption to their academic career as school plays a critical role in stabilizing their lives and helping them to achieve important milestones. Newborns to preschool kids are also affected by moving, however, the long-term impacts are not as great.
Academic performance isn’t the only aspect impacted. Moving is associated with a decrease or setback in a child’s social skills as well as increased emotional and behavioral problems. There are also recorded detriments later in life. For instance, adults who moved frequently during childhood have a 44% lower earning potential.
Because of these and similar findings, it’s recommended to put off a move until the end of the school year if possible. Doing so gives kids the opportunities to complete the current curriculum. It also lets them say goodbye to school friends and teachers if moving to another school district.
Parents are also advised to take any concerns raised by their children seriously. Although a child’s worries may seem minor when compared to the financial and logistical stressors adults must handle during a move, they can feel very big to the child and should be met with empathy.
Preparing Your Children for a Move
There are many ways to help your kids prepare for the stress of moving as well as supporting their ability to cope afterwards.
Remember: communication is key
First and foremost, you need to be communicative throughout the process. Putting off the news until the last moment is not the way to go if you want your children to adjust well. Instead, sit down and discuss the move as a family as soon as possible. Make sure the conversation is honest and open. Let them know it’s okay for them to react naturally whether that’s with sadness, anger or otherwise.
Telling them early gives kids more time to think through the change and process their feelings. It also offers them the opportunity to ask questions and share input. This is especially important for younger children who may feel they have no control over the situation. You’ll also want to keep them updated as the time draws closer and check in with how they’re doing afterward.
Find ways to get the kids involved
Another way to help them adjust is to get them to participate in the move. Depending on the age of your children, constructive ways to enlist their involvement and help them to feel like part of the team include:
- Creating inventories of all their belongings
- Sorting through which toys and clothes to donate
- Packing up boxes of their stuff
- Planning out the layout or design of their new rooms
- Picking out decorations and paint colors
Be patient
Kids need to be given plenty of time to adjust. As you all get back into your established routines and settle into life in the new neighborhood, expect to hit a few bumps along the way. Working through these emotions and potential hurdles often calls for you to set positive, healthy limits. If you run into a roadblock in their adjustment, reach out to a school counselor or therapist who can help them to cope better during this stressful time.
Want to learn more about the impact of moving on children and how to help make it less traumatic? Check out the accompanying resource from Move Central for further information.
Author bio: Stan Caramalac is the founder and CEO of Move Central. He started the company because he truly believed that moving could be simple as long as it was done efficiently. He strives to help people make their moves smoother and less stressful. Caramalac and his team proudly serve San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
