The great majority of military families have to move every couple of years and those who have firsthand experience of this constant relocation know only too well how difficult it can be, particularly for children. Your child’s needs have to be taken into consideration in this hectic time, and the good news is that there are some tips that can assist you in helping your children with military moving.
The first step is to talk to your child about the upcoming military move the moment that the new orders are received. Keeping a positive attitude can be a very good tool, as making relocation appear normal and even exciting can make children think that most families move every few years and that it is nothing to worry about.
Happily, you can also get advice on how to help your children to deal with military relocation by making contact with your unit chaplain or the Relocation Assistance Program representative at your base. The family center will also offer parenting classes and family counseling. Communication is very important – small children might think that making a military move is the same as deployment and mean that either their mother or father will be leaving without them.
Another good idea is to include your children in the process of planning the move. You can plot out the journey to your new duty station together.
myMovingNews
