Tips For Moving House With Children
With so many things to pack and loads of logistical problems that may arise in the process, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a house move can be very stressful. However, it can be even more stressful for children. If you’re a parent and you’re thinking about moving house, preparing your child for such a big change is incredibly important. We’ve prepared a few tips to help you not only make this experience less challenging but make it fun and exciting as well!
Moving House Tips for Kids and Parents: How to Turn a House Move Into an Exciting Adventure
Talk to Your Kids Early and Openly
Don’t wait until the last minute to inform your children about your plans. Remember that, in general, things that are new and unknown tend to be scarier and more concerning, so the earlier you talk about it, the more time they’ll have to process this information and familiarise themselves with the idea of moving home. To help alleviate their worries, explain the process in detail, give them time to ask questions and make sure that they know they can come to you with any concerns. You cannot force your children to be excited about moving, but you can calm them and lead by example with your own attitude.
Pay Attention to Your Child’s Feelings
Children need routine in their lives, and that’s why moving house, especially if you’re moving to another city, can often be confusing or even scary for them. Being away from friends, having to adjust to a completely new environment, changing school – there are many things they may be worried about. It’s important to acknowledge and talk about such feelings, particularly for younger kids who may not yet know how to cope with stress and other negative emotions.
Get Your Child Involved in Planning and Packing
Children often feel vulnerable when they find out they are moving home, as this is something that’s decided for them by their parents. Consider letting them decide about the smaller things that are important to them, e.g. concerning things from the old room they want to keep or replace. You can ask your child to help with decorating or choosing paint or wallpaper colours. It will make them feel more in control and may even make them excited about the move, so it’s definitely worth a try.
If you’re still searching for a new house, ask your child where they would like to live. While wishes like ‘close to the park’ or ‘with a bigger garden’ are quite likely and easy to predict, others may surprise you, but taking at least a few of them into account when making your final decision is an easy way to help your child see the moving process in a more positive light.
Nothing relieves stress better than having fun. Luckily, with the right attitude, almost anything can become a game, even completely mundane tasks such as packing. Collecting items to put in different boxes can easily turn into a treasure hunt or a friendly competition between all family members. You can let your children decorate a few moving boxes or practice handwriting by labelling them. There are many options to choose from, and you can even create your own game idea together.
Give Your Child a Treasure Box
Whether it’s a favourite toy, a book, crayons or a diary, everyone, regardless of age, has things that are especially important to them. Losing such precious items can be very upsetting, and, as it’s easy to lose track of things during a house move, it may be a good idea to set aside a separate box for your child’s most beloved treasures. Let them decorate it however they want (e.g., with stickers, paints or crayons) and choose what they want to keep inside. This way, it’ll become their treasure box where they can put their favourite things, and, even more importantly, it’ll be easy to keep an eye on them to bring them safely to your new home.
Visit Your New Neighbourhood
A great way to get children excited about moving house is planning a trip to the new neighbourhood or even the new house before the planned move day. This will give them time to get a clearer picture of what living there is going to be like. Show them their new nursery or school, visit local shops and look for other interesting places to see. Maybe there’s a zoo or an interesting museum in the area. You can also find a park or playground nearby, but make sure to reserve some time to play together. Exploring the new neighbourhood is an excellent way to help your child forget about stress before the upcoming moving day.
Pack Your Kids’ Belongings Last and Unpack Them First
To make the moving process as comfortable as possible for the youngest members of your family, consider packing their belongings last. This way, you’ll not have to worry about small but time-consuming issues like looking for a toy that’s already in one of the boxes. This simple step can save both you and your child a lot of stress and tears.
And when the right time to pack your children’s belongings finally comes, make sure to label each box properly to find them without a problem later on. The very first night in a new home can be difficult for children, but being surrounded by familiar things can help them feel safe and calm. Even if your moving day is going to be very busy, try to find time to unpack and set up their new room as soon as possible.
Don’t Change Your Child’s Routine
We’ve already mentioned above that routines are important for children, but now it’s time to take a closer look at this issue. Your child’s routine consists of little things, e.g., going to sleep at specific times, tidying up their bedroom after playing, eating meals together with the rest of the family, or even watching movies or playing board games together. Making sure that such things stay the same in the new home is an easy way to help children adjust to the other changes and make this entire experience less stressful.
In short, if your family has any traditions, keep them. When setting up your child’s bedroom, stick to the same furniture layout, and if your children have to change school after moving, you may want to plan your move during the summer holidays to give them more time to get used to their new surroundings before the next school year.
Let Your Child Say Goodbye to the Old Home
It is easier for children to forget about something if they can say goodbye to it. But saying goodbye to the old house can be a great solution to end one chapter and start another not only for your child but for your entire family. You can organise a farewell party, give your child a notebook to collect farewell notes and contact details from their friends, or take your child to their favourite place for the last time and take pictures. You can even plant a tree together in the garden or park to leave something behind before moving to your new home.
Work With Professional Movers for a Quick and Easy House Move
Moving house is always a challenge, but moving with kids gives you many more things to take care of. That’s why hiring professional movers is a great solution. We can help you pack and transport your belongings to your new home so that you can focus on other things, such as making sure your children are happy and comfortable.