Moving to a new area can be an unnerving experience for adults, but for kids the experience can be downright traumatic. The prospect of leaving friends, school and familiar settings can cause serious problems at a time when parents already have their hands full.
More than anything else, children fear the unknown: What will my new school be like? Who will my new friends be? Can I still be a Scout? Will I ever see my old friends? Will my new room be as nice as my old room? The more information you give a child in advance about his new environment, the more secure he?ll feel about the move. Here are some techniques parents can use to smooth the transition:
If at all possible, visit the new school with your child, preferably while school is still in session, so your child can get a picture of it in his mind. Ask the principal and guidance counselor if there are special programs at the start of a new school year for new students. School officials may be able to refer you to one or two local children who will serve as "buddies" or pen pals for your child before school starts.
At the start of the home buying process, involve your children very directly - ask them what they like and dislike about your current home, how they would like to decorate their new bedroom. Open discussions not only generate excitement and give the child some sense of control, they help the parents define their home buying needs.
A child who is motivated about a move and comfortable with the idea of a new environment
can make the experience more pleasant for parents, as well. When you relieve the stress your children are feeling, you reduce your own stress enormously. Then you are freer to concentrate more clearly on the other aspects of your move.
