5 Tips to Help a Teen Handle the Challenges of Moving l Moving Tips with Kids l Advice on Talking to Teens

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“I want to go home,” a teen girl shouted from the top of the balcony as her mom moved boxes into the unfurnished living room. Before you dismiss her feelings, acknowledge that they are valid. The move is not viewed as an exciting new chapter for the family in her eyes. If this sounds familiar you need to pump the breaks here. You have to do what is right for the family, but your teen is taking it hard. The move has shattered stability, they could lose connections at school that they formed and they may feel betrayed. He or she might feel devastated that they will have to start all over again and could resent you. Kids need to feel stability and consistency. If you need to move there are ways to handle it before you have a screaming teen on your hands. Here are 5 ways to help your teen cope with the changes of moving.

Encourage Them to Remain Connected

Let your teen know that they don’t have to forget the people they knew in the old community. Encourage them to take photos, write emails and call people from their old neighborhood. You can help them throw a party and invite people that they are leaving behind or plan a vacation with old friends once things have settled. Share that they do not need to break ties with people they’ve built relationships with over the years. Tell them they can visit their friends if they are nearby and they can visit the community if they need to. Help them create a scrapbook of memories to send to cherished friends or create one for your family together.

Make it a Teachable Moment

Treat this change as a teachable moment. We know life is not easy and learning how to problem solve is an important aspect of transitioning successfully. Your child will get a taste of being out the comfort zone and this will teach them copying skills. Psychology Today explained: “We can't keep our teens in a safety bubble. They need to learn coping skills to adjust to transitions and what better ways to teach them but when you're walking beside them as they're going through it.” While the lessons here are important, do it with love and not out of frustration or anger. Maybe you can learn something through this transition as well. Just be open to change if you want your child to be open to change. They take cues from you.