Published on Wednesday, 23 March 2011
For parents who are already emotionally mature, saying yes to a career-altering move may prove to be easy. But the same thing does not necessarily hold true for your kids. Let's say that you just got a job promotion which requires you to uproot your family and move out of state. Making the decision should be a snap for you, considering the higher salary and the greater career opportunities that will come your way. But what about your kids? Depending on the number of years that you have already lived in a place, your kids would have made friends within the neighbourhood. Younger children may not necessarily welcome the idea of being in a new school and being the new kid.
For this, there are certain adjustments and preparations that you can make as a parent, based on the age of your son or daughter. Here are a few suggestions on how you can prepare your kids for a move:
· Infants and toddlers
You might be surprised at how resilient infants and toddlers are when it comes to moving. They may be a bit cranky than usual, but the extra activities going on around them during the move will simply make your child wonder at what's going on. Just make sure to give your child as much attention throughout the process, and keep their security blanket or favorite toy on hand during the move.
· School age kids
Preschool, kindergarten, middle school and elementary school-age kids are a bit hesitant about leaving their things and friends behind during a move. For this, you need to prepare them early emotionally - give them time to say goodbye to their friends and have them pack their own things so that they'd be sure that they are not leaving anything important behind.
· Teenagers
Teenagers may be the oldest from the lot, but they are actually the ones who might find it most difficult to move. At this age, social relationships are extremely important to them and leaving friends behind is not a pleasant prospect. To make the move easier, make sure to be available as a parent to have a long talk with your teenage kid. Explain to them the importance of the move, and make them aware that you're making the decision as a family. Be supportive of your teenage kid and be there for them as they adjust to the new place.
