6 Tips for Moving with Kids
No matter how experienced or savvy you are with relocation, every move causes challenges. Moving can be especially hard for kids with changes in neighborhoods and schools, along with saying good bye to friends. But with a little advanced preparation, the move can go more smoothly for the whole family. Check out these six tips to help you plan your move with kids.
1. Kids might be anxious about moving to a new place, so address any concerns they might have ahead of time. Communicate with kids as much as possible, so they know what is happening at every step. You can even make a calendar with them that shows the day of the big move plus other events such as a last get-together with friends or the date of a visit to the new neighborhood. If the children need to, let them talk about how they are going to miss the old place, but also let them know about possible adventures the new home might bring.
2. Let the children say goodbye to the old home, and hello to the new one. Have your kids make cards for both your old and new neighbors and let them pass the cards out themselves. Let them take a moment during the move to walk through each room in the home and talk about all the fun things that happened there. Encourage them to tell the old house what they will miss, but also what they are looking forward to. Let them wave to the old house as you drive away.
3. Help your kids learn about their new place. Show them pictures of the new house. If it’s a new city, get books at the library about the town’s history or local sports teams. Use Google maps, with ariel views, so you can easily show the children the new neighborhood and any fun nearby places. Point out (either in person or on a map) where they will go to school, where you will most likely go grocery shopping, the closest park they will play at, etc.
4. On the day of the move, it will be much easier on everyone if the kids are kept busy. Not only will that help the parents move faster during the packing and loading; it will keep the children from seeing their house slowly emptied. Ask friends to plan play dates to keep the kids out of the house, or have family or a trusted babysitter take the children to do an activity they enjoy.
5. Let the kids pack a special box with their most important things. This way they won’t worry that their favorite books or toys will somehow get lost. They can even decorate the outside of the box, so it can be easily visible among the many boxes. Plus, this will get them involved in the moving process, so they feel more control over this event.
6. If possible, move the kids’ room last and set their rooms up first in the new space. This will help the kids quickly get settled, and make the new house feel more like home.
Moving with kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare! For more moving tips check these out here.
Photo Source: Better Homes Gardens.
I’m Frances. I am a mother, a wife, and a community volunteer. I work as a scientist by day and moonlight as a blogger. Making lists helps me keep everything on track. While I have a good life, there is always room for improvement. Join me as I decorate, organize, and try new things over at my blog Improvement List.
