It's summertime. School's out and a lot of families that have thought about relocating actually get up and make the move during the summer break. But is this the best time to move your kids?
Moving can be stressful for the whole family, but it can be especially hard on the kids (particularly teens) who are faced with leaving behind their friends and all the familiarity of their previous home. They'll have to learn the layout and procedures of their new school and face the challenges of making new friends while worrying about whether or not their new set of peers will accept them.
Many parents (myself included) deliberately move their families at the start of summer so that their children can acclimate to their new home and then start school fresh with all the other kids in the fall. However, it was once suggested to me that this is not necessarily ideal.
Moving over the summer can mean that kids have many days to spend alone, with lots of time to dwell on missing their old friends. There can be weeks of summer vacation left before the start of school, turning what's usually a joyous childhood time to quite a lonely one. Parents should attempt to keep their kids occupied with activities, extra "family time" or by joining local clubs and teams to get the ball rolling on making friends. But how many of us actually do that? Getting unpacked and organized, starting new jobs, etc. means moving can be pretty exhausting for us adults.
Thus the idea that moving during the school year may not be as bad as most people might think. Depending on your neighborhood, school can be the primary means for a child to have the opportunity to make new friends. Just getting out to the bus stop can allow kids to meet other children in their own neighborhood and provide a way for them to come together. The same can be said for the classroom and school activities. Plus, kids aren't spending days and weeks agonizing over whether kids at school are going to like them. They get that "first day at the new school" over with quickly.
Now I don't know what's best here. I'm not a child psychologist. We always moved over the summer months and my stepchildren often went to visit their mom during that break so they were pretty much pre-occupied and in a familiar place while their dad and I got the new house straightened out. By the time they came home they had maybe a week or so before school started.
Still, I know moving was hard on them and I don't know if moving during the school year would have made a difference. Or course, I was a teacher back then so job commitments prevented me from moving before the finish of the academic year anyway. But moving mid-year was something that I hadn't considered before and being that I now often work with relocating families, I thought it might make for an interesting discussion.
While it seems that socially it might be a nice idea to move during the school year, academically I think it can be difficult. Catching up if the previous school moved at a slower pace can be rough on a kid. And having to sit through a repeat of material if your previous class moved quicker can be boring and cause a child to tune out.
I'm sure what's best is definitely an individual family decision because no two kids are alike. And of course, that's if you even have the luxury of deciding when you move. That perfect job opportunity is not always in sync with the school year and many military families don't have the option of deciding when they can stay or go.
So I'm putting it to you....what's your opinion? Is there a "best time" to move with children? I invite you to share your experiences of moving with your children. Share your suggestions for making it easier on them. Perhaps your experiences can help make it just a little bit easier for another family facing a big move.
Kind Regards,
Maria Pettis
REALTOR, e-PRO
843.860.3901
Maria@OTRHomes.com