Wash Away your Moving Blues

Moving to a new neighborhood, town, state, or even country can be a pretty scary experience. All you know is that things will be different and chances are you won't know the kids at your new school.

The experiences that go with moving make many kids feel nervous and worried. This is perfectly normal but don't let these emotions overrun your thoughts! You will soon get used to your surroundings and find new friends at your new school.

Keep in Touch

Leaving old friends and familiar places behind can be difficult. However, as you begin the moving process, keep in mind that saying goodbye to your old house, school, and friends does not mean that you have to forget them or that your farewell is permanent!

If you're moving to a new state or even a different country and won't see your friends for a long time, don't despair. Make sure to ask everyone for their address so you can write them letters. Also, thanks to the Internet, it is very easy to stay in touch through email or instant messaging technologies.

With your parent's permission, you can even create a blog or web page to chronicle all of your new experiences. Include your thoughts, tales of your new adventures, even pictures of new friends, your new house, and new town. Your old friends will love seeing what you are up to.

Take a Tour

Once you have arrived in your new hometown, ask your parents to drive you around so you can find all of the great parks, stores, and fun stuff to do. See if you can take a tour of your new school before you start your classes.

Before you leave your old school, ask your teachers if they can write letters to your new teachers, informing them of the subjects you were learning at your old school, your grades, your talents, and which skills you were working on. This can be very helpful to your new teachers because they will know just where you left off at your former school.

Make New Friends

Many schools have an orientation program where a student already established at the school shows around a new student for their first week. This can help you to find your way around the school and to make new friends faster.

Make sure to look into after school programs and clubs that your new school offers. These are great ways to meet fun kids with your same interests. Before you know it, you'll feel like you have known these friends for years.

Talk to Your Parents

Make sure to discuss with your parents all of your moving worries. Chances are they have experienced these same fears and emotions at some point in their lives. Ask them how they dealt with any big moves or changes in their life. Believe it or not, you can learn a lot from your parents past experiences!

No matter what happens with your big move, stay positive and optimistic about the experience. This is probably just one of many moves and changes you will experience in your lifetime! Each time you are presented with such a challenge it will become easier and you will know what to expect and how to react.