Relocation can be a stressful affair. Selling or renting your home, shipping belongings, saying bye to friends and family, leaving your job and worrying about life and work in the new community are but a few of the pressures one feels before and during a relocation.
One area of concern for parents is the children. Relocation with children doubles the stresses and worries. Most adults find relocation traumatic or at least unsettling, so imagine how a child feels. Fear, sadness and anxiety are all symptoms of relocation for children too.
Children must be made to feel included in the relocation and be made fully aware of where they are going. By being part of the relocation a child feels more involved and informed and thus reduces their levels of tension and fear.
Explain the relocation to the children. Involve the children in the relocation process. Let your children help where they can by looking at brochures for apartments or houses, potential schools, picking removal companies, packing and arranging a good bye party for friends and family. Things your children are attached to such as a pet, toy, book, clothes or blanket should be taken along on the relocation trip. This adds some familiarity to the new home. Make an effort to teach your children as much as you can about their new home in imaginative ways. Show them pictures, books, movies, magazines and brochures. The more they learn about the new home the less they fear the relocation. Finally, convey excitement about the move. It is critical that parents always express a sense of excitement, wonder and adventure when discussing the relocation. If the relocation is talked about negatively or hesitantly the children will always pick up on it.
These are but a few relocation tips that if followed will help your child come to terms with and positively become involved with the relocation process.
About this article.
This article was supplied by the Kentucky Economic Development and the Texas Economic Development Guides.
