How Do Military Moves Affect Children?

Behavioral Effects

• According to the American Academy of Psychology̵7;s 2004 report on military families, children of different ages may react differently to a move. Toddlers may react by developing sleep problems, throwing tantrums or becoming sullen. Preschoolers may show regression in toilet training and show signs of anxiety. For school-age children, whininess, aggression and irritability are common.

Educational Effects

• There is no one-size-fits-all education system in the United States. Different states have different requirements for age cutoffs, kindergarten readiness, testing requirements and immunization guidelines that might make enrolling your child in a new school difficult. The Council of State Governments is working on legislation that would make transitioning from school to school smoother for military families. Probems do exist, as in the chance of missing subjects altogether if one school taught a concept in one grade, but the new school has already covered that concept in an earlier grade.

Social Effects

• Leaving friends and your support system is one of the more difficult aspects of a military move. According to Zero to Three, even young infants can experience a sense of loss from leaving friends, family and the comfortable surroundings he has become accustomed to. Being the ̶0;new kid̶1; can also present anxiety and feelings of social awkwardness in children, according to the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children.

Coping With Moves

• Unfortunately, moving is an inevitable fact of life in a military family. There are some things that you can do to help your child cope with the stress, anxiety and fear of the move. Military OneSource suggests that you involve your child in as many aspects of the move as possible. Start early by letting your child know of the pending move as soon as you do; look at websites of the base or new town you are moving to, including the child̵7;s new school. You can also take a short trip to the new duty station, if feasible, to give your child an idea of what to expect. Let your child help pack and make sure you allow her to choose special items to keep with her during the move. If possible, involve her in the planning of her room décor or let her choose a new activity, such as gymnastics or dance, at the new duty station. One of the more important things to consider, according to Military OneSource, is keeping your stress over the move private from your child; your child will look to you to see how to react to the move, and a positive attitude can go a long way toward making her more comfortable.