Chess Blog

Moving with teenagers

Give them as much notice as possible

Teenagers need time to process information so telling them they’re moving in two weeks is only going to end in a screaming match and with them telling you they hate you. Make them part of the process, tell them you’re thinking of taking a job and involve them in your conversations. Take into account and engage their concerns and feelings about moving and ask them what would help make the move easier for them. Considering their needs when picking out a new home can help them feel important.

Try not to move them mid-year

Moving teenagers during the middle of a school year is possibly the worst decision you can make as it will make it harder for them to settle in to their new school. We recommend trying to wait out the school year, even if that means the parent who is starting the new job moves earlier than the rest of the family. Letting your teenager finish their school year with their friends will mean that when they do start at a new school, fresh in a new school year, they won’t be the only new kid and won’t feel as isolated.

Bring the family pet

Finding a removalist who can also relocate your pet will help your teenager feel more comfortable with the move. When they arrive in their new home, they might find that the only one that listens to them is the family pet, so it’s important that Fido or Fluffy joins in on the adventure. If you haven’t got a pet, consider taking your teenager to a shelter when you’ve finished unpacking at the other end – giving them an instant new friend is the perfect way to help them settle in and give them some purpose outside of school.

Organise trips home

Whether you’re moving an hour away or the other side of the world, organising regular trips back to their old faithful hometown or suburb can help give them something to look forward to and will definitely help ease any anger they may feel towards you. Encourage them to pick out their favourite things about their old home and make sure you plan those things into your visit – think restaurants, parks and even shopping centres.

Let them find their own way

Once your teenager starts making friends and gets back into the routine of school, they’ll eventually come to find things they love about their new home. Encouraging them to join extracurricular activities that they enjoy to make new friends can speed this up. Unless their grades start slipping or they don’t show any interest in socialising, you may want to seek professional help, but otherwise let them figure it out in their own time. Just be there when they need someone to listen to them.

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