U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Desiree N. Palacios

While families gear up for trips to the beach, picnics or outdoor fun this summer, some military families face an even bigger adventure — relocating to a new community. Permanent change of station (PCS) transitions from one duty station to another, many of which happen during summer, are a part of military life. Yet saying goodbye to friends and support networks, making new friends or fitting in at a new school are experiences that can be stressful on a military family, particularly children.

We asked Cmdr. Wanda Finch, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury family and community program manager, for tips on how families can communicate and prepare for a move, stay resilient and adjust successfully.

Prepare children to say goodbye
Be creative when getting children excited about moving, such as making a scrapbook of your new town or making a local favorite dish. Come up with creative ways to say goodbye to people and places you’ll miss, such as taking a tour of favorite sites. Tell children if the move involves a change in daily routine and listen to their concerns about moving. Open and honest communication can help prepare children for a potential separation. Communicate in a manner that is age-appropriate for your child, and seek psychological health support when needed.

Set up a support network
Transitioning from your family readiness centers and child services can add stress to your move, and setting up support systems and health care in your new town is critical. Military Homefront helps find resources available at your new installation or town. Providers can be essential for a successful transition for those receiving psychological health care. InTransition connects families going through transitions with personal coaches that help them find new providers. Children may find support through new connections with other military kids at MilitaryKidsConnect.org.

Moving day teamwork
Encourage children to be involved with the packing and moving process and assign them a certain role to help out. Make sure to monitor your own behavior throughout the moving process. Many children can sense a change in their parent’s behavior and can develop emotional strain as a result, which could make moving day unpleasant for the whole family. Check out communication tips for military families from Sesame Street at familiesnearandfar.org.

Settling in to new surroundings
Children might be apprehensive to meet new friends at first, so talk to them about what activities they’d like to get involved in to socialize. When transitioning to a new school, monitor your children’s school work and personality because uncharacteristic behavior may be an indicator of a psychological concern. The Military Child Education Coalition offers resources for military parents and students, including support educational opportunities and peer-based programs. Try to maintain routines and family structure while settling down and make family meetings a priority.

Perhaps most importantly, treat your move as an opportunity for adventure and an exciting part of military life.

Check out these additional resources for tips to help make moving a little easier: Military Youth on the Move and Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.