A guide to moving with teens
Moving with teens sets families up for a different set of challenges than moving young children or adults. Teens sit in the often awkward age of transitioning from children to adults, where they discover their identity and place in the world.
Moving is a busy and stressful process. It’s a time where you’re burdened with many extra tasks over and above your normal workload. It’s disruptive, and for teens, a time of uncertainty in their already complex transition to adulthood. We’ve put together a few tips for making your next move easier for you and your teen.
Engage your teen in the move
We tend to focus on the needs of younger children when we move house, but it’s equally important to focus on teens. It’s common for teens to feel sad, confused or annoyed about moving, as it can uproot them from friends and their established routine.
We have to remember that teens are emerging adults, so the best way to get them engaged in your move and to feel more positive about it is to involve them from the start and keep them involved until you’re settled into your new home, often months after you’ve moved.
The benefits:
- Your teen won’t feel neglected or overlooked.
- Your teen will feel included.
How to get your teen engaged in the process
We’re not suggesting you give your teen a long list of tasks to complete to get them engaged, as this will feel like a bigger burden, although you should let them sort out their own room in the packing process. We’re talking about giving them an opportunity to voice their opinions and tell you what’s important to them in your new home.
Every teen is different. Consider asking them about:
- Space to be alone.
- Opportunities to meet friends.
- Access to shops, parks, recreation, entertainment and places to eat.
Ultimately, you’ll make the final decision about the property you want to buy or rent, but giving your teen this opportunity to express their needs will help gain their acceptance about moving.
Take you teen to property viewings
Teens have a considerable resistance to any task that feels like a chore, but taking them with you to property viewings in an excellent way to get them involved. Take them with you as often as possible and atalk to them about the house as you view it.
Ask them about:
- What room they like.
- How would they like to decorate it?
- Does it suit their needs for socialising with friends?
Remember, your teen is only a handful of years away from becoming an adult and moving out of home. You can always repaint their room then.
Manage their routine around moving
Moving is disruptive, and unless you’re moving during the Christmas holidays, you teen needs to manage their schoolwork and routine. Get them involved in packing up their room, but balance this against giving them time to manage their normal routine.
Helping your teen settle in to their new home
Moving is always unsettling as well as exciting, as everything is new for the first few weeks or months after your move. To help your teen settle sooner and help them to feel positive about the move consider the following:
- Having a few extra treats, like takeaways.
- Having a movie night.
- Inviting their friends over to hang out in their new room.
Give your teen extra attention after the move
The adjustment period after moving differs for everyone. It lasts until everything is familiar and you’ve settled back into a routine. Watch your teen through this period to make sure they’re getting settled.
Common signs they are unsettled:
- Shutting themselves in their room more than normal.
- Crying.
- Being quiet or loud.
We are creatures of habit and enjoy our routine. It’s normal for your teen to feel sad about leaving their old home, especially if they have moved away from friends and the places they liked to go. Make sure you talk about it and encourage them to express their feelings. You will get them settled in eventually.