Children's Experiences of Moving

kaz665

Hi everyone,

I am stationed at RAF Kinloss and am currently studying with the OU for a Degree in Childhood and Youth Studies. As part of a current assignment I am looking at children's experiences of moving house due to postings.

Although I have had experience myself of moving overseas and within the UK with my child (now 11). I would love to hear from anyone who has any comments of problems their children have had, support they have recieved for their children etc from any of the services.

If you have a few minutes to spare I would really be grateful if you could send me some of your comments.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

Karen

JCP

Well I can't really comment on what it is like these days, but as someone who attended 11 different schools as a result of my dad's postings, I'd say it isn't as bad as you might think.

The first couple of postings after starting school weren't great, but you soon realised that you were meeting old friends again in new locations. I don't think I attended a new school after the first 3 where I didn't actually already know at least a couple of kids there.

As for support - I wasn't aware that there was any lol! You just got on with it.

Trying_to_be_good

Kaz - sent you a PM

aliavavodka

I agree with jcp, altho it is 22 years since my father was in the Army, for the first 15 years of my life, we moved about, and every posting we reunited with friends within a few weeks, it was all quite exciting seeing where everyone lived etc. The only time i was upset by the moving was when my Dad`s 22 years were up, and at 15 years of age i had to start a new school, and had so much work to do to catch up with my exams.

Ali

ragstoricheswannabe

Another one here brought up in the army way of life. Didnt find it hard moving all the time untill it came for my dad to leave the army and settling down somewhere new as left all my friends behind.

The army lifestyle is really friendly (at least it was) everyone knew everyone and everyones doors were always open and if you needed help the whole neighbour hood would come to the rescue. As said in previous posts, the brigade (?) tends to get posted to the same places (we moved every 3 years or so) so my friends moved with me give or take a few weeks.

If anything, it has made me more adaptable to change and i can pack all my belongings into boxes like you wouldnt believe!!!!!!

P.s - do they still do the huge wooden boxes to pack your belongings in??? they made the best play houses ever!!!!!

aliavavodka

OMG i used to love thoes boxes lol had completely forgotten about them!!
I remember washing walls and counting crockery before leaving too lol.

Sorry about being off topic, it`s lovely to remember "the old days" lol

Ali

downshifter

Kaz, have sent you multiple pms with the ramblings of a life story!! V Boring. The main problem for me as an army child was coming back to the UK in between foreign postings and going to a civvy school. That was traumatic. The army life was fine, we were all in the same boat and knew we'd move after a bit, all shared the same experiences. It was the civvy bit that was problematic, not the army bit!! I too remember the cleaning up and panic that the house wouldn't pass the inspection too. I love moving house now.

But as a teenager I hated the restrictions and was glad to be able to leave that life in the end.

kaz665

Thanks for all your messages :beer:

As for the boxes I'm afraid the singlies now only get the cardboard triwall boxes and us married guys get whatever a moving company will let you have :rolleyes: Pity I can think of loads of things the wooden ones could be used for.

Really interesting to hear all your comments, especially the differences between Army and our RAF experiences (My son has never bumped into anyone from a previous school but as he's 11 there's still time!).

From the sounds of it the majority of chilren did not get any support from practitioners regarding the move but don't seem to be too worse off for it. It's interesting too as I work in a secondary school at the moment but have also done some work in an SCE school in Belgium and to be honest the moves there were so common place that you were the odd one out if you didn't leave after a couple of years.

Thanks again for all your input .....must get back to it.