‘We’re moving again’: Supporting children with family relocations

Although it can be exciting to move to a new house and community, relocations are a major source of stress for many families. The positive consequence of frequent relocations is that children get to know different parts of the country and sometimes different cultures if they are posted overseas. This can help to boost their confidence to relocate for study, work and relationships when they are adults. Also, if well supported, children can develop coping strategies to help deal with change.

Despite the positives, there are many challenges for children. They feel the stress within the family, and younger children might struggle to understand what is happening during the different stages of the move. For example, the service parent might leave early to start their new role, and the other parent and children are left to pack up their house and say goodbye. When they arrive at the new location, they might be living out of a suitcase for a few weeks before they can access their belongings.