To you, a move to a new house probably means more space, a better neighborhood, or even a brand-new start, and maybe a new job. But to your kids, it means leaving behind a place they know and love. At least at first — the good news is little kids are extremely adaptable. Planning a move to a new home is an exciting time, but when you’re moving with kids, there are a few extra steps to take to ensure a smooth transition. As professional movers, we know moving with children can be complicated, so we’ve created this checklist that includes advice specific to families with children.
By staying organized throughout the moving process, you will avoid putting unnecessary stress on yourself or your kids. When it comes to telling people what to do with their children, we understand that there can be some sensitivity involved. But hey! If you’re here, that means you would probably like some concrete advice. This article will give you the solid guidance that you seek. We may be the best movers but you are your own child’s expert. You know them better than anyone. That being said, the suggestions we make are based on what child psychologists have said and what we know has worked for other parents that have made a local move.
Moving can be tough on a child. It’s hard for anyone to say goodbye to their old home, but it can be particularly difficult for young children who don’t feel in control of the situation. So how can you prepare your kids for a move? This guide will walk you through how to prepare your kids emotionally, pack with little ones, have a successful moving day, and make their first few weeks in your new home totally awesome. Let’s get into it.
Discuss the move with your kids as early as possible
Moving can be a very difficult experience for children and breaking the news is the part many parents worry about most. It is helpful to openly discuss the move with them. Our local movers would always recommend being transparent about your decision to move and speak positively about the opportunity for your family. Discussing the move ahead of time, on multiple occasions, will allow your child to become more comfortable with the idea. If you’re excited about the move (for instance, if you’re moving to a bigger house or have a new job), tell them about the happy news.
It also helps to involve them in the process as much as possible, whether it’s taking them on visits to the new house or research the parks and activities in the new city together, or letting them pack together with furniture movers. This makes the move feel more like a family experience than something being forced upon them. Kids love to feel involved, and the news of an impending move can make them feel left out.
You may find them asking, “How long have you known?” They don’t want to think you’ve been keeping secrets from them, so avoid waiting until the last minute to break the news. It’s best to tell toddlers about the move about a month ahead of time, while older children can know a bit sooner. This shows consideration and gives them more time to emotionally prepare.
Hire great local movers
We had to put this because as professional movers we know better than anyone, moving is stressful! We don’t have to tell you how much you have on your plate as a parent as is. Save yourself the headache of dealing with sketchy local movers and put your items and sanity in the hands of reputable professional movers. When you have small kids, you can forget about organizing a DIY move. You should get as much help as you can. First, start with hiring professional local movers. Next, ask your friends and family to look after your kids. When you start to pack you will have dozens of boxes lined around your house. Your kids can easily trip and break something. In addition to this, they can even get injured.
To prevent unnecessary injuries, have someone look after your kids. You should pack the house when your children are asleep or at school. Also, you should not pack toys first. Leave packing toys for last since you can distract your kids with toys while you pack some other parts of your home. This is especially important if your kids are small.
Prepare yourself for the packing process
When you are moving with children, you have to start moving and packing tasks on time. This does not mean a few weeks earlier, but a few months in advance. Relocating with kids takes twice as long. You have to take care of kids while organizing the move and working full time. For this reason, give yourself time to complete all the tasks. In addition to this, if you are packing without professional movers and packers make a packing schedule. Gather all the necessary packing supplies.
These include moving boxes, wrapping material, fillings, tape, and labels. You can also buy all of these from professional movers. You can always use a black marker and label the boxes. However, you can make labeling fun. Get stickers so your kids can label their boxes. If your children are bigger, as, in teenagers, they can be responsible for packing their rooms. Again, it is important to include your children in the moving preparations.
Involve your kids in the whole process
Are you wondering how to help your child cope with moving anxiety? As we have already said, let them involved in the process together with the best movers! When you let them help it can make them feel in control at a time when events in their lives can seem out of their hands. For example, give the kids some boxes and let them pack up their room. Let them be in charge of labeling boxes or adding colorful stickers to them. You can also let them weigh in on what color to paint their new room and other rooms in your house after you move in. These responsibilities, no matter how small, will give your children a sense of belonging and authority that connects them to the move in a positive way.
Keep your children involved in the moving process as much as possible. Have a “pizza and packing” party to make them feel included and a sense of control, then praise them for their contributions. Moving to a new city of strangers can certainly be a scary idea to a child, especially if it is his or her first move. Share the story of your first move and what you did to make friends. Also, let them know that you’ll be there to help them settle in and feel comfortable in their new home. Open these lines of communication so they can come to you with their feelings or concerns about the move. Allow them to be upset or sad, and then look for solutions together.
Answer their questions
Also, this one is an important piece of advice from our local movers. As your children learn when and where the family is moving, they’re bound to have questions. Even if some of them seem silly, listen intently and answer all of them to the best of your abilities. For local moves, remind them that they can still see their old friends and visit their favorite parks. If you’re moving out of state, be honest with the kids and tell them if you plan to visit. Thankfully, teenagers can still keep up with and interact with their friends via social media. Your honesty, though perhaps difficult to hear at first, will aid in their preparation.
Pack and donate some items while they are asleep
Lots of parents have invented a variety of methods for engaging their kids in the moving process. If you plan to pack yourself, this is a great place to include your kids. During the packing and moving process, you can play a variety of games with your kids. Donating items can also be a great way to declutter while helping people in need and saving some money on local movers. You can put your unneeded items into boxes and take them into the local donation spot. It can be a great lesson for your kids about the importance of sharing and donating.
You can imagine the scene: Your child notices you boxing up a toy that they rarely play with, but upon seeing it they need to play with it right now. Kids tend to want something the moment they believe it’s out of reach, so if you are packing in front of them, you may find them unpacking everything right behind you! Try packing at night while they are sleeping, and they probably won’t notice if a few toys are missing. This goes for donations, too. You can expect a fit if your kids find out you’re ditching any of their stuff — even if you know that it’s only things they never use. Take donations to a drop-off at night after bedtime.
Have a moving day plan
If no one can watch your kids on moving day, create a simplified moving day plan to explain to them. Kids like to know what’s coming, so talk through the details of the day so they know what to expect. If you are hiring local movers, explain to them who they are. It’s also a good idea to pack up a moving day kit for each child with some of their favorite toys, some coloring books, or even a tablet loaded up with movies they can watch. Make sure they know what is happening and what is expected of them during the move.
Arrange childcare
One of the other nitty-gritty details of moving with children is arranging a babysitter. It’s not easy to work with the furniture movers on moving day when you have young children that also need supervision, so you should set this up in the weeks prior. Some professional movers partner with or provide childcare services as part of the package, but others may require you to look at other options. Be sure to consider friends or family as well since the kids will be comfortable with someone familiar. If the kids are old enough to look after themselves, consider providing activities for them in a room away from the local movers.
Many families end up relocating to a new city or home at some point. Although moving can be taxing for adults, it is often much more daunting for kids who may feel like it’s the end of their world. They may feel saddened at the prospect of leaving everything behind or resentful because they weren’t involved in the decision. While there can be many unfortunate circumstances, moving is quite often, for positive reasons. Be sure to include your children in the process so they know it is an exciting time for the whole family. Many children thrive on a routine, so moving to a new city can be overwhelming. They will say goodbye to their school, teachers, friends, and the community they are familiar with.
After the move, kids are challenged with acclimating to new surroundings and people, which can take time. We know parents want the best for their children, so we’ve compiled our top tips to help set your kids up for successful relocation. No matter what emotions they experience, there are a few steps you can take as a parent to make the transition easier for your children. If you are moving with kids, you might think that they can only be a distraction but that would be wrong. With the right attitude, you can make a fun activity where kids can be very helpful! This can help your kids to cope with the stressful time that is moving.
You can find a lot of good articles on moving on various sites, but in this article, our professional movers shared with you some ways your kids can help you prepare for a move! And if you need the help of the best local movers in town, get in touch with Movers Arcadia and get your free moving quote today! Our professional movers will make your move with kids as stress-free as possible!
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