Moving your children mid-school year means they're immediately introduced to other children their own age and presented with numerous opportunities for academic organization membership, sports teams and overall familiarization with their new hometowns. And of course, as children mature and become high-schoolers, they're more likely to introduce themselves to the new student in the class, to offer to take them to lunch, introduce them to their circle of friends, etc. Many child psychologists say that children between the ages of about 5 and 10 are the least affected by a move. Children of this age range don't look outside their families for validation and support as much as teens, so a transplant into a new environment isn't removing their primary source of reassurance. If you are moving during the summer months, find out if your child's new school offers an orientation.
Teens are trickier.
This is the age, of course, when children are attempting to separate themselves from their parents and establish self-identity. Their friends are a significant source of emotional support for them. So uprooting them is more traumatic. On the other hand, teens who successfully handle the stresses of a move are likely to experience a boost in their self-esteem and sense of competency as a result. In fact, teens who have met the challenges of a relocation are often more successful in their attempt to handle the emotional stresses of moving to college for the first time.