Making the Move Easier for Military-Connected Children

Moving to a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming for adults and children alike. Advance planning whenever possible helps ensure there will be plenty of time for transition and adjustment for your child. Connecting to friends, family and your military community can help ease the stress of uncertainty. Military OneSource offers a variety of resources and assistance to help make your next move a smooth one for the entire family.

• Tell your children about the move as soon as possible. Give your children time to adjust to the idea of moving and to say goodbye to their friends.
• Listen to your children. They may have lots of questions, or they may need some space during this transition.
• Answer their questions as best you can, and be patient with yourself and them.
• Allow everyone to express their feelings, and try to give everyone the time they need to adjust to upcoming changes.
• Prepare for your move and anticipate your child’s needs and concerns. Planning ahead is key to a smooth move.
• Visit the Military OneSource Plan My Move page to create a personalized checklist for you and your family. Keep your list of tasks in one convenient location, organized by topic or timeline. Whether it’s locating a new school, securing new housing or preparing financially for the move, the Plan My Move checklist will help ensure you won’t forget a thing.
• The checklist includes tasks to help families with special needs find assistance at your new installation. Families can also consult the EFMP & Me tool to help with securing resources and assistance.
• Let your children help.
• Let them contribute to the Plan My Move list.
• Have them research new schools, or read about school liaisons with them.
• Find your new home on a map, then zoom in to see what’s around it.
• Teens can search online for housing and scout out their new school or fun things to do on the new installation.
• Older youth and teens can help pack household goods, and younger children can pack their own belongings, favorite items or a “first day box.”
• Reassure your children.
• Tell them you love them.
• Let them know that together the family will adjust to their new home.
• They’ll have a new home address, but the important things in life — such as how much you love each other — won’t change.
• Stay positive and keep them involved.
• Try to emphasize the exciting parts of change, such as learning about new places and meeting new people.
• Your children take their cues from you. Remind them that you’re a strong family and that new adventures await.
• Celebrate your children’s favorite things.
• Before the move, visit the library, your favorite ice cream shop or the park.
• Have them take something special or a photo from one of those places to the new house.
• After the move, encourage your child to find a new favorite place in your new location, which can give them a sense of security and familiarity.

• Share how others have experienced similar situations with your children. PCS moves and other realities of military life can sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness. Military OneSource and Sesame Street for Military Families can help you and your young children navigate these and other challenges of military life by seeing how the familiar characters handle similar situations. Learn ways to build community and strengthen family bonds with Sesame Street and Military OneSource resources.
• Find support for your youth or teen through your installation youth center. Military youth centers offer a wealth of support for youth and teens, including youth sponsorship. Like the adult sponsorship program, youths are paired with peer sponsors before they move. Youth sponsors can answer questions in advance about the new installation, schools and the overall community, and help transitioning youth feel connected before they make the move. Sponsors can also introduce new youth to the variety of opportunities available through installation youth programs/centers.

• Select your child’s next school with assistance from your local school liaison. As soon as you receive your move orders, reach out to your local school liaison and check out the Changing Schools MilLife Guide. Your liaison can help you prepare for your child’s new school by connecting you with the school liaison at your new installation, who will help you:
• Determine which school options and programs are a good fit for your child. From magnet programs to sports teams, school liaisons know the local education landscape. They will take the time to understand your child’s academic, extracurricular and social needs and wants, and make school recommendations accordingly. If your child needs a school culture with a strong art or sports program, for example, your school liaison can help you identify available school options that will help them feel at home faster.
• Choose housing that aligns geographically with the school that provides the best academic and social fit for your child. Once you identify the right combination of academic and social factors that are important for your family, your school liaison can help orient you to your new geographical area. Your school liaisons are familiar with the zones that map to the schools and youth programs your family desires.
• Explore special education support available at your new installation. Local school liaisons offer a variety of education support for family members with special needs, including help with transitioning to a new school, navigating the school’s special education system or addressing general education issues and needs. School liaisons can assist with referral to the DOD Exceptional Family Member Program.
• Navigate the components of your child’s education transition. School liaisons help with a number of transition-related education issues, including eligibility, enrollment, placement and graduation.
• Read more about the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission.
• Watch this video to learn more about how MIC3 supports military-connected students.
• Connect to youth programs outside of schools. Every installation has unique partnerships for military-connected children, youth and teens in the military and civilian communities.

Moving is part of military life. The more you talk about your new home ahead of time, the easier the relocation will be for your children — and you. Let Military OneSource help you take care of your family and your move, one step at a time. If you have questions or would like additional information, call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647, view overseas calling options or schedule a live chat 24/7.