Making a military move might be something your child dreads or looks forward to, depending on how they usually react to change. Many children look at an upcoming relocation as a big adventure, while others may become fearful, worried and anxious at the prospect; some children might be excited and worried at the same time.
There are a number of things that need to be taken into consideration if you want to help your child to cope with the upcoming military relocation. One of the most important is to learn all about your new duty station as soon as you can. Research the station and the community that surrounds it and share this information with your child, as this helps to reduce the ‘fear of the unknown’ factor.
It is also a good idea to try to demystify the move in your child’s mind. Making sure that they are kept up to date on the ways in which the move will take place can help to placate their uneasiness about the subject in a big way; for example, if you will be staying in temporary accommodation for a few days or weeks before the move to your new home, you can tell your child about this in advance to avoid catching them off-guard at the time.
This philosophy is also applicable to other aspects of the relocation. Your child’s anxiety about the big change they are about to experience will lessen considerably if you take away as much of the mystery surrounding it as you can.
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