728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
Get Pregnancy Information
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Teenagers › Moving Day

Moving Day

Teens Can Cope With Family Relocation

By Teri Brown

Pages:  1  2  3  

(Sourcebooks, 2004), believes that another thing parents need to understand about their teen's reluctance to move is their need for constancy. "Teens like consistency and predictability," she says. "Change is hard for most people, but teens in particular because so much within them is changing; they like to have the rest of their lives to be comfortable and familiar."

Because of the uncertainty caused by moving, teens may become anxious and apprehensive. They may fear not fitting into a new school or making new friends, especially those that had difficultly in the past with such issues. These fears are very real and may increase the risk for already vulnerable teens.

Another challenge your teen may face when moving is the possibility of losing credits if they move to a school with different requirements. The new school may also have higher or lower academic expectations.

Helping With the Adjustment
Even though the move may be a difficult one, there are things parents can do to help teens adjust. Rosenberg says, if at all possible, parents should find out about extracurricular activities even before the family moves. "Sign your student up for sports or whatever clubs you can in advance," she says. "Many high schools allow prospective students to 'shadow' a current student, so your child will feel more familiar and will recognize a face or two." Here are some other ways parents can help teens adjust to a move:

  • Talk to people at the new school and make sure that all records from the old school are received.
  • Don't assume the child will be miserable, andif the move is necessary, parents shouldn't feel guilty about it. Making the move manageable for everyone involved is the key. Some teens look forward to a new start, while others may be devastated.
  • If you belonged to a church or synagogue, join a congregation in your new community and become active immediately.
  • If financially possible, make sure a cell phone or easy access to the Internet is available to stay in touch with old friends.
  • Invite old friends to visit and encourage trips back to the old neighborhood.
  • Include the teen's opinions in house hunting.
  • Let your teen decorate his new room to suit his own taste. If he wants to re-create his old room, allow that.
Pages:  1  2  3  


Want to see more?