How Playgrounds Help Military Kids Adjust to PCS Moves
by Amy Rowland - September 3rd, 2022
PCS season can be a challenge: packing up everything, and everyone, and shipping it to a new, and often unfamiliar, location. It’s stressful for the servicemember and spouse, most certainly. But sometimes we overlook, or even dismiss, the stress that our children feel during this time. Especially if kids are younger, it’s easy to assume they don’t mind or that they won’t be sad or miss anything or anyone. But that’s simply not true. We need to help our military kids adjust to PCS moves.
As an Army brat, and now Army wife, I’ve experienced the stress of moving 16 times so far in my life (that’s not even counting my “single” years before I was married.) Moving was stressful at every age, particularly when we were traveling between duty stations. Everything was strange and unfamiliar. I remember getting knots in my stomach because nothing was recognizable (except McDonalds.) I just wanted to get to our new home.
Now that I’m a mother of four children (ages 7, 5, 3, and 2), I try to remind myself that when my kids are out of sorts and irritable during the long drive between duty stations, it’s likely that they feel this same stress and anxiety as well. But, there is something I’ve discovered that takes away a lot of their stress and anxiety when we move: playgrounds!
Playgrounds are in our PCS travel plan
Whenever we stop at a playground the kids are thrilled! They literally run from the car straight to the swings or slides. It’s something familiar and recognizable! Joy and happiness immediately emanate from every fiber of their being. They forget, for a little while, that we are in a completely unfamiliar town on our way to a place we’ve never been. They often even find new play mates during these brief stops.
We’ve come to the point that we now plan our stops around cool playgrounds even when we’re just on long road trips. It gets them outside in the fresh air, burning off energy. Even I feel more relaxed and refreshed when we stop at a playground instead of always going to wait in another crowded line at a fast food restaurant.
Learn more tips about PCSing with kids in our webinar here.
Help military kids find community after a PCS
Then when we arrive in our new duty station, we immediately seek out the local playgrounds and parks. These are truly the heart and soul of most communities. They not only provide some familiarity but they are also a great way to get to know the new town. In the summers especially, it’s where so much activity happens: movies under the stars, races, cookouts, and farmers markets. The community congregates there and it can be a great way to feel more like a local and meet new people.
Immersing ourselves in this way always seems to make the transition time less stressful and more enjoyable. The kids aren’t pouting inside because they have no friends (like I used to do). Now, they meet them at the local playground, skate park, or splash pad… and it’s a great place to arrange play dates when you’re first getting to know new people.
Need more ideas for keeping your kid busy after a summer PCS move? Read our tips here!
So, as the dust settles, the boxes get unpacked, and the damaged goods paperwork all gets completed, take some time to escape to the park, play and meet some new friendly faces.
Want to know if your next neighborhood will have good parks or playgrounds? Read our neighborhood reviews on PCSgrades! Whether you move into base housing, or find a place off base, you can access FREE reviews written by and for military families, to help you enjoy your new home. If you love the playground near your current neighborhood, leave a review so other families can discover it.
Amy Rowland is a military spouse, lifelong Army brat, and mother of four.
