It is amazing how resilient children can be when it comes to picking up and settling into a new home/city/school/daycare. Albeit, despite what many people think looking in, no matter how many times military families move, it never does get any easier. In the past ten years, we’ve moved six times with our three daughters (now ages 11, 13 and 18). These amazing beings moved between four different provinces, three different countries and countless different schools. With posting season right around the corner, I would like to share some tips on how you can prepare your child(ren) for the upcoming move.
Moving can be very scary for children so it is important to treat it as an adventure. Explore the new, upcoming location with them by looking online or at books. Reach out to a local Military Family Resource Center or someone who knows the community. Discover fun things to do and check out attractions. Explore interesting facts and history together. Learn about common animals or birds, weather, parks, conservations, shopping, restaurants, local cuisine, festivals, language, culture and sports that you can all look forward to. Having some knowledge about the new location and exciting things to anticipate will help take the edge off of moving to an entirely new place and possibly not knowing anyone. Make it into an exciting journey!
After determining what the best schools are in the area and where you plan to reside, let your child(ren) play a role in choosing schools. Go onto the website and check out arts, sports, uniforms, layout, playgrounds, clubs and school vision statements. If a House Hunting Trip (HHT) is possible, visit and get a tour of schools. Arrange to meet the principal or other staff so that they see a familiar face when they begin school. Let them play or go for a walk on the school grounds. For older children, see what is within the vicinity of the school in which they may visit on lunch breaks. If going on a HHT isn’t possible, most school websites now have virtual tours.
Leaving friends behind or having friends move away is a difficult occurrence for anyone, at any age. Thankfully, technology has evolved greatly in recent years and has allowed us to stay in touch with such incredible techniques. Remind your child(ren) that they can stay in touch by writing, typing, talking or video chatting. It isn’t a ‘goodbye,’ it’s a ‘see you later.’ If time difference is an issue, schedule a time for them to be able to communicate over the weekend or on holidays. Let them know that moving doesn’t mean that they are losing friends, it means that they can stay in touch with friends and have the opportunity to make even more friends. Ask them to tell you something about someone new that they meet each day of their first week at daycare or school (what their name is, where they are from, what their favorite game or book is). Try to make a point to eat dinner together each evening, or a common shared time, and have them share one positive thing about their day. Encouraging them to join sports or clubs is also great way to get them meeting new people. Make small photo albums for them to give to friends and also take with them to cherish. It can take time, with some moves harder than others, but talking to them, listening to them and reassuring them helps them know that they are not alone.