what's the best age to move with a kid?

[Anonymous]

We are thinking about relocating from the DC area to be closer to our families and our kid's cousins in NC. We have a 6 year old in kindergarten. Trying to decide the best time to make such a move. Would like to time it for the summer, not sure how possible that will be, but that's the goal.

If you've BTDT, when did you move and what experience did you have? DH doesn't think it's as big of a deal as I do, but that's probably because he moved in middle school and didn't suffer any consequences, made friends right away, played sports, etc.

[Anonymous]

I moved every 4 to 5 years to a different country until high school. Earlier is better. High school is to be avoided because of college applications, middle school gets tricky because of the adolescent thing, elementary is really the easiest time.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with your husband. We've moved 3 times since the kids started elem--about every 2 years. The hardest move on my then 3rd grader was her best friend moving away not us moving.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on the child. And, crazy enough, they might in the exact opposite way you'd expect. We've got two kids. Our 4 year old easy going risk taker still pines for our old home and her friends. Our anxious 6 year old hasn't looked back and had fully embraced her new school.

[Anonymous]

We moved when our kids were entering 3rd and 5th grade and it was fine for both of them (they both moved into a k-12 private school so the 5th grader wasn't moving to a new elementary school for just one year).

I moved a lot as a kid and the only moves that I found difficult were those before my junior and senior years, especially the one right before my senior year. Even then those moves made me extremely adaptable and also gave me great motivation to go to college. I've read that some experts now recommend moving mid-year. That makes a lot of sense to me -- when a child walks into a classroom mid-year other kids are more welcoming

[Anonymous]

We moved a lot when I was a child. One year three times. For me it was the norm although until I reached middle school I really didn't form any close friendships.

Anyway, your child is young and will adapt to a move fairly quickly. How quick is dependent on their personality etc. but given his young age adapting into a new school at their age isn't like moving into a new high school where you have kids with long term relationships/cliques. And the earlier you settle into a neighborhood the quicker they will meet kids that will be attending school with them.