Moving is never easy, but it can be especially difficult when you have kids to consider. In addition to worrying about packing up all your belongings and finding a new home, you also have to keep in mind the emotional upheaval that comes with a major life transition. Thankfully, there are many ways you can make the move easier on your kids — and yourself! Here are some tips for moving with kids.
It’s important to involve your children in the process of planning a move as much as possible. Let them help pick out their new bedroom or brainstorm ideas for decorating it. Ask their opinion on where to put furniture or what color paint to use in their new room. This will help them feel more connected to the process and give them some sense of control over the changes they’re experiencing. And don’t forget about involving them in packing up their own things! Allowing your kids to pack items that belong just to them will give them a sense of autonomy throughout this stressful time.
Kids don’t always understand why their parents are moving or why they have to leave their friends behind; it’s important to explain the situation in terms they can understand and give them time to adjust before the big day arrives. Talk about where you’re going and show them pictures of your new home so that they feel comfortable about the transition. You should also try to spend some quality time with them before the move; this will help reassure them that life will still be good once you get settled into your new place.
Moving can be a confusing experience for children, so it’s important to give them something familiar during these times of transition. Whether it’s their favorite toy or a stuffed animal, having something comforting during this transitional period will help alleviate any anxiety they may have about leaving their old home behind and starting anew somewhere else. Additionally, try bringing along books or movies from their current home—this will help keep their minds occupied while driving or flying from one location to another.
Having fun activities planned during the move can help take some of the sting out of leaving their old home and transitioning into a new one. Try setting aside some time during the move for family game night or movie night, so that everyone has something fun and familiar they can look forward to at each stage of the process. If you’re driving from your old home to your new one, plan stops along the way for special treats like ice cream or an overnight stay at a hotel with a swimming pool. These small moments of joy will give everyone something positive to focus on amidst all the chaos of moving day!
If possible, try to get settled into your new home before school starts back up again after summer break—it’ll give your kids time to adjust before having to face all those first-day-of-school jitters! Take advantage of this opportunity by visiting local parks and playgrounds together as a family so that you can start getting acquainted with your new neighborhood and making friends in it before school begins again. You could even start planning playdates ahead of time if possible, so that when school does start, your kids already have some friendly faces ready and waiting!
Another key tip is to start packing early. If possible, try to begin packing at least two weeks before you move out of your current home. This will give you plenty of time to pack everything up without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. It’s also important that you label each box so that unpacking is much easier and less confusing for everyone involved.
There are a lot of things to consider as you prepare for your move, so we’ve compiled all of these tips into a helpful article. Check it out below!
Related Article: Moving Without the Stress: Tips for a Relaxed Move
Moving with kids is stressful enough, but adding pets to the mix can make things even more chaotic! Luckily, we’ve prepared an article to help you get your pets acclimated to the moving process. It’s important to consider what your pets need during this stressful time. And remember: your kids can help with the pets too!
Related Article: Tips for Moving with Pets
Another way to involve your kids in the move is to let them help determine what items should stay or go. This can be a great bonding experience, and it can help to teach them about organization skills. Set aside some of their clothes, toys, books, and other items, and have them decide whether they want to take these items with them or not. For example, if they have outgrown certain clothing items, you can help them realize that it would be better to give away the clothes rather than take something along that won’t be used.
Consider creating the following piles to organize things as you declutter:
Click here for some additional decluttering tips and tricks.
When it comes time for your actual move-out date, it’s important that you have a list of priorities on hand. Having this list organized ahead of time can help keep things running smoothly and ensure that all essential items are taken care of before anything else. This could include anything from turning off utilities at your old house to ensuring all furniture has been packed and moved into your new house safely and securely.
When it comes time for your move, you’ll have a lot on your hands. No doubt you’ve already spent weeks (or even months!) decluttering the house, packing boxes, and preparing everything for the big day. But who is going to help you do the heavy lifting once moving day arrives? You can definitely ask your friends and family for help, but we recommend hiring a trusted moving company to make sure all your belongings arrive safely and on time.
Related Article: DIY Vs. Professional Furniture Moving
Moving is always stressful—no matter how much preparation goes into it—but there are ways you can make it less painful for both yourself and your children by involving them in the process, making sure they have plenty of fun activities planned during this transitional time, and getting settled into your new home before school starts back up again after summer break. Plus, you can reduce the stress involved by hiring a trusted moving company to take care of all the heavy lifting for you. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to make this big life change as smooth (and stress-free!) as possible for everyone involved.
