Some teens might look at moving as a good opportunity to start over, but most won’t. To them, starting over—new friends, new classes, new teams—sounds horrible, if not impossible.

Expect to see some old behaviors for a while. The child you hardly saw on the weekends in your old home may become suddenly attached to you again. He may try to fill his time with hours of TV or computer games.

Help him start slowly to get his bearings:

• Pick one activity he loved at his former school or in the community. Help him get involved in that activity in your new community.

• Limit the time he spends in front of a screen. If he has a TV or computer in his room, take it out. Suggest he go for a walk, check out the library, or visit a museum or other place of interest in your new community.

With your support, your teen will be ready to start a great year at his new school.

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