Our neighbors are moving. The kids are brokenhearted, as they have become really good friends with their kids. We’ve moved four times ourselves. The last time was the hardest move of all, since we had young kids. Trying to organize the new house & just move, in general, is hard when you have kids running around “helping” you move.
Although they don’t mean to, kids tend to unintentionally slow things down when moving house. By the time you’re a parent, you may have moved house a number of times (for us, it was 3 times!) However, as a child, moving house may become a significantly emotional process, as they say goodbye to the home they may have been born in. Our oldest son talked about our previous house for years.. and he was only 4 1/2 when we moved.
To tackle this issue and to save some time and stress leading up to moving day, Kent Removals & Storage has put their 70 years of supporting families moving house locally, interstate and overseas to good use, compiling a comprehensive list of moving tips to help ensure a smooth relocation with your kids.
Today, he shares those tips:
- Talk About It
Ensure that you are encouraging open and honest communication between you and your children, so everyone is on the same page about how and when the move will be happening. If possible, it may also help to familiarise them with their new suburb and house; take them to local attractions in the area – a playground, pool or café may work.
HOT TIP: Kids will love the idea of decorating a new room, so make sure you talk and plan this with them!
- Time It Correctly
When booking your removal with a removalist company, be mindful of the day and time and how they might impact your kid’s activities. If at all possible, try to match it to a time you know the kids may be occupied with a scheduled activity. While this may not always be possible, it can help to reduce anxiety and stress on the moving day. It can also help create a more seamless transition for you and your removalists, as having children running around while they are packing and carrying moving boxes may not be ideal.
If you have never moved with children before, there is a general rule of thumb to help estimate packing times. Determine how long it would have taken you to pack before you had children and double it, for every child you have! Alternatively, save yourself the added strain by booking in professional packing services.
- Pack A ‘Special’ Box
Allow each child to pack a special box of their favourite belongings. This will include the stuff they will want right away, and won’t want to see get packed up onto a big and scary moving truck. Having easy access to these items will allow them to feel at home quicker, creating a smoother and more pleasurable transition for both you and your children.
- Encourage Routine
Avoid missing commitments and events that instil routine, as this will disrupt their schedule and cause an element of panic. Kids love routine, so keep things going as they always have.
- A Little Help Goes A Long Way
If a neighbour, friend or relative offers to take the kids for a few hours – say yes. Not only can this give you time to check things off your all-important moving checklist, but it will free you from having to keep your eye on them all day.
There will be a number of distractions when the moving trucks arrive, so plan ahead to minimise any risk of bumped heads or tantrums over packed toys.
- Be Flexible
When it comes to kids, we know not everything goes to plan. Try to be tolerant, giving your child a variety of tasks to perform. This will keep them busy while you pack. Any time they spend feeling involved, is time that you get to bond during this transition process. So why they may be stressed, and a little sad about leaving their old stuff behind, encourage fun and excitement during this time.
Relocating your family can be an exciting, but very stressful time. Maximising your time is essential, as this can determine how quickly you all settle into your new home. These tips are just some ways in which you can make the move easier on yourself, derived from Kent Removals & Storage’s years of experience, helping over a million people move.
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Talking about the move with your kids is a good idea so they know exactly everything that is going on. Otherwise, they may become saddened by everything. They are probably going to still be sad, but talking about everything will ensure that they know exactly what is going on. That way they won’t be in the dark with anything.
Kids with moving is very difficult work. While moving, the children handling have a lot of stressful. Kids are very troubling when moving us. Your blog gives a lot of information regarding moving with kids. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.