If you are a mother planning a residential move and wondering how moving affects kids, you’re not alone.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 17% of families with children, both preschool and school-aged, experience at least one residential move each year (U.S. Census Bureau, 2007).
Moving as an adult can send ripples through the fabric of your existence, influencing behavioral patterns, social activities, and even your self-esteem. This is especially true because moving is linked with illness, loss of employment, and divorce. These changes impact kids, especially when they are young and impressionable.
The studies we examined regarding moving with kids uncover a troubling trend. There are indeed adverse effects associated with moving children, even just once, and even if they don’t change schools. The change in school grades and sociability is seen most especially in the first year after a move.
Studies on the impact of moving on kids
Due to the gravity of the subject matter, several related studies on the impact of moving on children have been referenced for this article.
One such study is “The Longitudinal Effects of Residential Mobility on the Academic Achievement of Urban Elementary and Middle School Students” by Adam Voight, Marybeth Shinn, and Maury Nation. This study explores how frequent residential moves in urban areas affect children’s academic performances. The researchers specifically used the housing crises of the time as the impetus and stage for the study.
Another relevant study is “Moving Matters: The Causal Effect of Moving Schools on Student Performance” by Amy Ellen Schwartz, Leanna Stiefel, Sarah A. Cordes. This research delves into the academic consequences of changing schools and the subsequent impact on student performance.
Additionally, “Exploring the Impact and Implications of Residential Mobility: From the Neighborhood to the School” by Robin Ersing, Richard D. Sutphen, Diane Loeffler is another noteworthy study examining the consequences of neighborhood and school mobility on student academic outcomes.
These studies, among others, provide valuable insights into the challenges and effects of moving on children’s academic performance, social skills, and overall well-being.
One thing they all agree on is that there is a remarkable difference in behavior and school performance. Age, frequency of movement, and distance can affect this. To mitigate the impact, parents must think ahead and develop ways to help their child cope psychologically at school and in the new home and alleviate some of the stress associated with such a significant transition.
Furthermore, if the child is moving from a big city like Toronto to a small town or village, it can also impact his mood. However, hiring local movers will make the process easier. Trusted Toronto movers can provide reassurance and efficiency, allowing the family to focus on settling into their new surroundings while ensuring their belongings are safely transported and delivered to their new home.
Impact of moving: Different ages different issues
Different ages have different effects when it comes to moving, and the number of moves made makes a difference.
In one recent study, children move an average of 2.5 times between birth and eighth grade, with some experiencing as many as 11 moves.
Moving between birth and kindergarten mainly impacts social-emotional development rather than cognitive abilities. However, elementary school moves tend to affect cognitive skills and social-emotional well-being by fifth grade.
Moving with kids: Changing schools
Changing schools adds an extra layer of stress to the situation. A move to a new school is particularly concerning as many families, especially those with lower incomes, frequently undergo multiple relocations.
The study produced by Hutchings (et al.) reports that “The effects of pupils’ moving school on academic success have been researched since World War II.” The transition of changing schools had slightly more pronounced effects on cognitive scores and emotional well-being than just relocating residences, indicating the complexity of children’s challenges during moves.
Interestingly, the academic effects of moving are more immediately noticeable, such as changes in reading and math scores. However, children tend to bounce back from these academic impacts over time. Moreover, changing schools has slightly stronger effects on cognitive scores and emotional problems than residential moves alone, indicating that home and school transitions contribute to children’s challenges during relocations.
Moves during middle school can lead to declines in cognitive skills by eighth grade. The Ersing, Sutphe, and Loeffler study states that “residential mobility has been shown to have a direct negative effect upon the well-being of children including decreases in self-concept and locus of control and increases in the likelihood of depression, emotional-behavioral problems, and engaging in acts of violence.”
The studies suggest that while academic effects are more immediate, such as shifts in reading and math scores, children can and do recover from these impacts as they adjust to their new environments. The negative consequences are significantly minimized when they move to a stable climate, accompanied by an intact family that is financially secure.
Frequent moving and moving to other countries with kids
The more frequently a child moves, the more significant the impact on their social-emotional well-being.
The National Library of Medicine published a study in 2013 that looked at moving frequency as a factor that affects children and how it does.
The researchers examined the school records of 121,422 children aged 4-6 and found that frequent mobility leads to poorer educational attainment.
Regardless of age, frequent moving is associated with slight declines in social skills and increased emotional and behavioral problems. Although these effects may seem minor individually, they can accumulate, putting children who move frequently at a greater risk of social isolation, disruptive or antisocial behavior, and detachment from the educational process.
Conclusion
Studies show that relocating to a new home during childhood can hinder various aspects of a child’s life, including school performance, social skills, and behavior. These adverse effects tend to accumulate, especially for children who experience multiple moves, putting them at a higher risk. The good news is that the changes don’t have to persist if parents are active in helping them acclimatize.
It’s essential to note that both home and school moves contribute uniquely to children’s experiences. School moves, in particular, have slightly more substantial impacts on cognitive scores and emotional issues, surpassing the effects of residential moves alone.
Even when children did not change schools during a move, challenges persisted, suggesting that the difficulties associated with relocating are multifaceted and not solely dependent on adapting to a new school.
Overall, this underscores the significance of considering the timing and frequency of all childhood moves. While the effects of moving are generally minor individually, the cumulative impact can pose substantial risks, especially for children who experience frequent relocations.
It is essential to establish support systems and strategies to mitigate children’s challenges during transitions at home and in their educational environments.
Copyright @smorescience. All rights reserved. Do not copy, cite, publish, or distribute this content without permission.
