How to Cope With Moving as a Teen From Your Childhood Home

Moving at any age is a stressful event, full of many different emotions. When teens have to move from a childhood home to a new place, it can be a traumatic experience. Teenagers are already going through emotional and physical changes, and their lives revolve around friends and social activities. Having to pick up and start over can be daunting, but teens can cope with the move by getting involved in the process and leaning on family for support.

Things You'll Need

• Scrapbook
• Pictures
• Electronic address book
• Boxes and markers
• Decor for the new room

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Instructions

• 1

  Discuss your feelings about the move with an adult. Talk to your parents or another trusted person about the reasons for the move and the reasons you are scared or unhappy. Allow yourself to be sad and mourn the loss of your childhood home.

• 2

  Research your new home before you move. Find out what the new location has to offer in terms of your interests, such as movie theaters, shopping malls or sports complexes. Ask for information about your new school, such as what extracurricular activities are offered.

• 3

  Make a scrapbook of memories from your childhood home. Gather pictures from all the years you lived there, and write memories underneath them so you can look back on the good times whenever you feel homesick.

• 4

  Exchange contact information with all the family and friends you are leaving behind. Modern technology will make it easy for you to communicate with them every day. Email, video chat and social media will prevent you from losing touch with people from your childhood.

• 5

  Get involved in the packing process. Sort through the items in your room and decide what can be sold or donated. Pack all of your personal belongings and label the boxes clearly. Pack over few weeks to make them seem less overwhelming.

• 6

  Decorate your new room with your personal style to make the transition easier. Add some pieces from your old room, but include new posters or bedding. Making your new room comfortable will provide you with a place to go when the move feels overwhelming.