Moving with Kids can be one of the most stressful experiences in life. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make it easier for you and your kids. The bad news is that we have no control over weather or traffic during this time, so if things don’t go as smoothly as we’d hoped, it might ruin the experience for everyone involved. So it’s better that you hire a professional moving company near you.
Here are some dos and don’ts when planning a move with kids—these tips will make a move go smoothly from- start to finish!
Make a game plan when moving with Kids.
- Make a game plan. If you have your move planned, this is a great time to ensure that your child’s needs are met during the transition to their new community. For example, if you know, there is going to be a long drive ahead of you, prepare some snacks and bring along some toys or other entertainment items for them (or let them bring their favorite toys).
- Clean up before you move out. No matter how much cleaning has been done by previous tenants/owners or yourself before moving day arrives, there will always be something left behind—trash left in corners or stains on the carpeting. The best thing for both parties involved (especially children) is not rushing through this last step because once the new owners take possession of their property after closing day comes around and everything gets packed away again into boxes…all those leftover dirty dishes will remain right where they were left behind!
Be realistic about your expectations.
When moving to a new city, the best way to prepare your kids is by being realistic about your expectations. The truth is that things will go wrong. You might lose something, wait too long in line at the post office, or even get stuck in traffic on the way home from getting groceries. You can’t control these things, so letting your child know they’re inevitable will help them deal with them better when they happen—and they probably will happen!
As you plan for this move and talk with your child about what’s coming up next month (or whenever), talk about all of the things that might go wrong during the process: “I’m sure there’ll be traffic on our way back from getting groceries; we may not make it home by dinner time like we’d hoped.” Or “I know we’ll miss some shows again this week because Mommy has to work late.” These small conversations will prepare them for what’s ahead and let them know that even though there will be challenges along the way, as long as everyone works together, we can get through anything together!
Don’t make any drastic changes.
When you’re moving with kids, getting overwhelmed with everything you need to do is easy. But even though you’ve got a lot on your plate, keeping your routine the same is essential.
- Don’t make any drastic changes in your diet
- Don’t make any drastic changes in your sleep habits
- Don’t make any drastic changes in your exercise habits
- Don’t make any drastic changes in your work schedule
Pack a suitcase for each child.
If you’re moving with kids, one of the first things to do is pack a suitcase for each child. This will help them feel like they are going on a memorable trip and can begin to make their memories of the move. Make sure to include some favorite items, like stuffed animals or unique toys, as well as their favorite blanket or pillow. Involve your kids in packing their things and let them choose a book or toys.
If your child has an appetite (and most do), it’s also important to pack snacks. For example, when moving into our new home in California from New York City, my son wanted nothing but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from Trader Joe’s every day for weeks after we arrived. So, of course, I was happy to oblige!
Get help from the pros.
- Hire a professional moving company. Hiring a professional moving company is necessary if you’re moving with kids. The last thing you want is to have your precious belongings scattered all over the place and your children accidentally putting their hands on sharp objects that can cut them.
- Hire a professional storage company if you need it. Suppose you will be living in temporary housing for an extended period. In that case, it is best to hire a professional storage company so that they can store some of your stuff while you wait for more permanent housing. This way, there will be less clutter in both homes and less risk of damage during the move-in process—especially if it’s done quickly (and who knows how long this entire ordeal could take?).
- Hire licensed cleaners as needed throughout the process. Though this may cost more money upfront than just doing everything yourself, having reputable cleaners come out once or twice per week while packing/moving/unpacking will save time and energy later on when it comes time to organize all of those boxes full of “stuff,” especially since many people go through emotional highs/lows when trying new things like this!
Consider hiring professional movers.
Hiring professional movers is a good idea if you’re moving a long distance. But, unfortunately, it’s hard to find reliable help willing to travel for such an extended period, especially when the pay could be better. If your move is local (within your state), other options may be worth considering.
If you decide to hire professional movers, remember that many companies offer services like this—and not all are reputable! So make sure you research beforehand so that when it comes time for them to pack up your things and drive across town or country with them in tow, they’ll treat your belongings well.
Hiring a professional moving company
If you’re working with a moving company, could you give them as much information as possible to avoid surprise costs later on?
Give your moving company a detailed inventory of all the belongings you have. Include photographs and lists of the furniture and appliances in your home and any other valuable items that need special handling. If any specific furniture or appliances need to be moved quickly, let the movers know about them so they can plan for those items’ transportation needs.
Keep track of all essential documents.
While you’re preparing to move, keep track of the following documents:
- A copy of your driver’s license and passport.
- Your children’s birth certificates.
- Your marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Your car title and registration.
- A copy of your property deeds (if appropriate).
Let your kids decorate their own room.
- Give the kids their room at the new place, but let them play a role in decorating it and helping you set everything up.
- Use your kid’s favorite color scheme and designs for their bedroom. You can save money on furniture by using old toys and books or even repurpose some toys as decorations for your new room.
- Get creative with storage options that work for both of you! You may not have enough space in the closet, so consider using drawer dividers to keep things organized and accessible.
Show your kids around the new neighborhood and take them to check out nearby parks, schools and grocery stores.
Moving to a new neighborhood can be exciting for kids and adults alike, but you must show your children around their new home. Take them to the grocery store, park and school so they can get familiar with the area. It would help if you introduced them to some neighbors and make new friends, so they feel safe when they start attending a new school.
This is also a good opportunity for parents to remember what it was like when they learned where everything was in their elementary school and neighborhood, as well as how long it took them after moving into a new house before they felt comfortable exploring on their own.
Preparing for a move with children can be one of the most stressful experiences in life, and taking extra steps to make things as smooth as possible is well worth it.
As much as possible, involve your children in the moving process. Make them feel more connected to their new home if they have an idea of what it looks like, what school they’ll be attending and where they will live. They must also understand why you’re moving—and that it’s not because of anything they did wrong! Keep them busy with a unique project like packing their toys or creating scrapbooks, so they don’t get bored while you pack up other rooms.
Keep in mind that keeping kids’ routines consistent during a move is just as important as having fun activities planned out for them during your relocation process.
If possible, please keep their bedtimes/wake-up times at their current location until after the move has been completed; once everything is settled at your new residence (at least for a week), you can move back onto regular sleeping schedules again.
Also, when planning meals and other activities between moves (such as taking care of pets), please try following what was previously established. This continuity helps reduce relocation anxiety over change among youngsters already undergoing many changes at once!
Conclusion
Moving is an exciting time for you but it can also be a stressful experience for your children. However, with careful planning and preparation, you can make a move go as smoothly as possible. The most important thing is to keep things in perspective: don’t make any drastic changes that might upset your kids, and remember that they will adjust over time. Make sure they have their room at the new place and let them help decorate it or pick out colors or furniture pieces they like best!
Finally—and this goes without saying—ensure you keep track of all essential documents so there won’t be any surprises down the line (like having to pay extra fees for missing paperwork). If you need professional help, call us at (480) 613-7023, and we will make your moving process as smooth as possible.
