Helping kids deal with the emotional stress of a move
Kids don't always cope well with the stress of moving. Experts told the New York Times that the event can be severely damaging, and can alter "life satisfaction" entering adulthood.
But, "a child's reaction depends to a great degree on the reasons for moving," University of South Carolina professor Fredric Medway told the paper. Whether moving to a new city in Minnesota or across the country, there are steps parents can take to reduce the impact on their children. First, parents can identify who seems most troubled by the move and pay special attention to their needs.
Children won't share parents' excitement, unless they have reason to. Having a "family meeting" can bring a shared attitude toward the move says The Learning Channel (TLC)'s Katherine Neer. "If you're moving because of a promotion or a new job, tell your children that you're excited about it … share with them your first move experience," she said.
Whether moving to a new city in Minnesota or across the country, there are steps parents can take to reduce the impact on their children.
Kids are also more inclined to accept the move to their new Minnesota homes if old relationships are explicitly preserved. "Between texting, emails and phone calls, your kids should be able to maintain old friendships while transitioning to their new surroundings and making new friends," Neer said.
Confidence in the old grants a sense of adventure in the new, and TLC argues their best piece of advice is exploring the grounds. "Be a tourist," Neer states. Both Minnesota's cities and parks should make this an easy prospect.
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