The Ultimate Guide for Successfully Moving With Kids
Moving in itself is a difficult endeavor and it’s important to organize that well before planning the after steps. For example, if you need any refurbishments, your home sale costs, what are you keeping or getting rid of. Now, when you’re organized and preparing for your move, your to-do list is pretty long. Every room is another room to pack on top of preparing to hand off your current house, secure the next house, book the movers, and make sure your children are ready to go when the time comes. Fortunately, moving with children can be as fun as it is challenging. Children often embrace change with enthusiasm and will enjoy almost anything that you do together as a family.
Whether your children are nervous about moving away from old friends or excited about packing every box, we’re here to help every parent out there with a few practical tips on how to make moving with your kids an enjoyable family experience.
Here’s everything you need to know about successfully moving with kids:
1) Talk About the Move Together
Sit down and talk about the move with any children old enough to have a conversation. Tell them that there’s a new house waiting and that you’ll get to explore a whole new neighborhood, make new friends, and discover new favorite restaurants. They’ll try out a new school, and you might be trying out a new job at the same time.
Prepare to talk out whatever your child feels about the move. They might be excited, scared, nervous, or not have any specific feelings about it yet. All reactions are OK. Reassure them that you’ll move as a family and start the teamwork vibe early.
2) Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Pack
It’s a smart idea to give yourself extra time for any move, but especially when moving with children. Children old enough to help you pack will likely need time to learn how, and all children need to stop for playtime every now and then. Very young children may be happy in a box fort while you pack, but will add time to your schedule in minding them during your packing days.
Kids rooms can also be more challenging to pack than you realize, and require more cleaning before you move out. But with a few extra weeks on your schedule, you have time to be relaxed and enjoy the packing process with your children.
3) Get Your Kids Involved in Packing & Unpacking
Most kids love to help and will enjoy doing things together as a family. So get your kids involved. Show them how to pack a box, and encourage each child to pack their own clothes, toys, and rooms carefully the way you have shown them. If you have to repack boxes, make it a game where one box is packed into the next.
Not only will your children save you some (or a lot) of time in packing, they will also feel more connected to the move. The adventure will have started, so that changes are less scary.
4) Make To-Do Lists for the Whole Family
Moving is a good time to get out the sticker board or dry erase board and make a big to-do list. Be sure to include everyone in the family – even the pets – in shared responsibilities. For parents, prioritize what to and not to fix up before selling your home. Everyone takes a turn or shares family hours in sorting and filling boxes. You can even pair this time with a shared favorite movie, television show, or music.
Putting everyone’s name on a chart will make your kids feel included, and show them that you’re working just as hard (or harder) than they are to get everyone packed up on time.
5) Know When to Call “Time Out” for Rest Breaks
When you get tired, call a time-out. It’s important not to overwork yourself during a move, and to stay hydrated. Calling a big time-out or rest break also shows your children that it’s OK to ask for a break if they start to get overtired or overstimulated during packing or travel later on.
6) Visit the New House & Come Back to Visit Old Friends
Children can often get more excited about a move if you spend a “vacation” weekend checking out the new town and the new house. In fact, letting your children help you choose the house is another great way to help them look forward to the move.
For children who have local friends, make arrangements to help them keep in touch (parents, addresses, social media, ect) and plan return visits to see best friends.
7) Let Your Kids Pick Who Gets the Clothes & Toys Donation
Children often have a few years of outgrown clothes and toys when it’s time to move. They’ll also have an easier time letting these old favorites go if you explain donating them to another, younger, child in need. Let your children pick which charity or church you give their old clothes and toys to, and use this as a motivation to do some sorting and donating of grown-up things, too.
8) Pack an Overnight Bag & Play Kit for Every Child
Make sure every one of your children has an overnight back and a pack of things that will keep them entertained when everything else is packed up. These will make your transition much smoother, and help keep your children occupied in the car hotels during travel.
Include some bedding so you can set up nap time anywhere, including the empty house when you arrive.
9) Plan the Road Trip Together
If your children are nervous about the car trip, plan it together. Look over the map online, trace your route, and talk about every gas station, restaurant, and hotel you might stop at. Then, give them your charging phone in the car and let them be your little navigator, counting mile markers and telling you when the next stop is coming up.
10) Ready the Key & Utilities Before You Arrive
Last but not least, make sure your home is warm (or cool) and welcoming when you arrive. Have the key ready so you can enter as soon as the car pulls into the driveway. Make sure the utilities are turned on and that the fridge and AC have been running for a few hours before you arrive. This will allow you to transition your children directly to napping and/or takeout dinner. Moving with your kids may be challenging, but it can also become a family adventure.
