Helping your kids adjust to a family move

For a young child, few things can be as devastating as learning that the family is moving away to a new town or city. Not only does this mean leaving the childhood home, but it also means leaving good friends behind and adjusting to a new school. While this is certainly a tough spot to put your kids in, here are a few tips for easing the moving process.

Set up ways for friends to stay in touch
Thanks to smartphones and the internet, it’s easier than ever for people to stay in touch across great distances. Let your children know that they can use text messaging, phone calls, video chats and social media to keep in contact with their friends from your old hometown.

Encourage extracurricular activities
It may seem intimidating for your children to make new friends in school, but one of the best ways to go about this is by signing up for extracurricular activities. Whether your son wants to join the baseball team or your daughter is interested in becoming a member of the science club, after-school organizations let students socialize in a different context.

Establish regular family activities
Strengthening family bonds is especially important when you’re moving to a new town, so consider setting up regular family activities for your kids to become more comfortable in their new surroundings. Frequent family meals, board game nights and trips to explore your new town can help in the early days after the move.