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The Three Rs
Help Your Preteen Relocate, Rearrange and Readjust After a Move
By Sharon Waldrop
"Preteens are more emotionally dependent and bonded to friendships than younger children who would be more dependent on their parents," Marsh says. "Preteens are experiencing an advanced stage of their individuation from their parents."
Michelle Pearson from Leaf River, Ill. contacted the local Chamber of Commerce for community information prior to moving. She phoned the new school that her daughters would be attending and inquired if any students were interested in a pen pal. The response was positive and Michelle's daughters started writing to future classmates before their move.
"My girls were always excited about their first day of school in a new place so they could meet their pen pals," Michelle says. "They had a head start on making new friends and many of the 'preliminaries,' so to speak, were already out of the way."
Sharon White and her family have relocated five times in the past 10 years. They now reside in California. "The first thing we look for when looking for a new house is kids the same ages as ours," Sharon says. "This is easy to do by moving near a school within the age group of your children."