7 Movies About Moving for Kids and Teens

November 9th, 2010 by Autumnn Darden| Posted in Apartment Living, Moving Tips | No Comments »

By MyNewPlace Guest Blogger, Autumnn Darden

Moving isn’t always an easy task. Adults have enough trouble trying to coordinate their family’s relocation; imagine how tough it is for the kids to adjust—especially if it’s a move cross country. That being said, I thought it would be helpful to compile a short list of movies for kids and teens that center around some issues that can arise when making a big move. Keep in mind that some of these movies are better suited for older teens, so remember your personal preferences plus your child’s age level when making your movie selections.

7 Movies About Moving for Kids and Teens

1.Karate Kid (the original version)
One of my personal favorites as a kid, the first Karate Kid film revolves around teen Daniel Larusso’s move from one coast to another, and his struggle to fit in. Luckily, Mr. Miyagi saves the day! (If you haven’t seen the movie, you’re missing out on the most profound sentiment of the 80’s: “wax on; wax off”.)

2.Toy Story
The first of the Toy Story trilogy, who can forget the anxiety revolving around the big move for Andy and his toys? A perfect choice for helping little ones understand your relocation.

3.Casper
Christina Ricci plays Kat, a girl who connects with Casper, the ‘friendly ghost’, after moving into a new home. Not too scary for the elementary crowd, plus it has a cute ending.

4.Footloose
Another of my personal favorites from the 80’s. Kevin Bacon plays the new kid in a somber town who decides to shake things up a bit. Perfect for high schoolers who aren’t too excited about making a long distance move.

5.Twilight
I realize this one is kind of a stretch to connect it with moving, and it’s definitely one for the older crowd—but what better way to get your teenage girl excited about moving to a new city? (Maybe she’ll find her own personal “Edward”…)

6.Cheaper by the Dozen
Big family moves to new place—all ends well. I recommend both the 2003 film version and the book by the same name from the 1940’s.

7.Because of Winn-Dixie
A truly heartwarming story about a little girl who longs to make human friends in her new town, but ends up finding a special dog that impacts everyone he meets.

Hopefully these will help the kiddos prepare or get used to their new surroundings. If there’s a movie I left out that would be great for helping kids cope with a move, leave a comment and let me know!