The Ultimate Guide for Moving with Kids

Moving can be hard on everyone, and prepping for a move and getting settled into a new home can bring long, exhausting days. As your family grows, the task of moving can become increasingly more complicated as you work to navigate the process in a way that helps your kids feel included and at ease with the transition.

While moving with children may be common, it certainly isn’t easy. If your family is planning for a move in the near future here are a few steps you can take to make planning, organizing, and settling into a new home a little easier on the whole family.

Preparing your children for a move

If your move involves significant changes for your kids, we’ve rounded up some great advice from a variety of resources across the internet to offer up ten tips to make moving with kids a little easier.

Honesty is the best policy

The experts at Parents Magazine stress the importance of communication with your kids about the upcoming move. Be honest with them, talk to them about what to expect and what might change and give them time to process the news and ask questions!

Keep them in the loop

Since honesty is the best policy, keep your kids in the loop as you get closer to moving day. Talk to them about what you’re doing, how they can be involved, and any changes that might come up along the way. Excellent communication will help them feel like they are part of the process and that you aren’t trying to hide anything from them as they process the coming changes.

Minimize Stress

Kids are pretty good at picking up on things, and stress is one of those attitudes that can spread quickly. Your kids will take cues from you about how to act and respond to the changes that are coming, and if you’re stressed and anxious, they will be too.

Try to keep things exciting and frame the changes as a fun new adventure. Think of ways to help them look forward to the activity, not dread it. All that positivity might rub off on you, too!

Make it fun

A great way to minimize stress is to make moving more fun! Think of activities you can do together that make the task of prepping for your move or getting settled into your new home more fun. Consider taking special outings to visit some of their favorite places or getting a few extra boxes they can use to build a fort to play in.

Not everything has to be serious; moving is a big change, so making it feel like a special occasion will help give it a positive spin!

Give yourself extra time to prepare

It’s always best to give yourself a little cushion in the scheduling department. As The Washington Post mentions in their article, you’ll want to give yourself a couple of months not a couple of weeks to pack and prepare.

Though moving will be a priority during this time, it won’t be your only responsibility, so making sure you have enough time to tackle the task without getting stressed will be key!

Stay Organized

If you have kids, then you probably have tons of “kids stuff.” It can be stressful to think about packing and prepping all their belongings, so organization is key. Do this by packing in zones, so that like-items stay together. Once you pack your boxes, clearly label them, so you know where to find things as you’re unpacking.

Maintain your routine

Most of us are creatures of habit, and kids are no different. Child Mind Institute recommends maintaining as much of your schedule as you can. While there is a lot to get done before and after moving day, keeping up with regular mealtimes and bedtimes will go a long way in keeping everyone feeling fresh and ready to tackle the tasks of moving.

Share ownership of the process

Kids love being involved and “helping” so give them some simple and easy tasks they can do to have some ownership in the packing and unpacking processes. Giving them jobs to keep them occupied will be especially crucial on moving day if you are unable to set up childcare help, so they aren’t creating potential safety hazards for themselves or crew members.

Make sure they have everything they need on moving day

As you’re packing, make sure to separate all their “necessitates” including favorite toys and books, clothes, shoes, and any other items they might need to first few days in a new house, just in case unpacking takes longer than expected. We always recommend packing a moving day essentials box. You can read more about what we recommend having on hand here.

Cut yourself some slack

Moving can be challenging, there are many things to coordinate, and it can feel like your whole life is in limbo. Cut yourself (and your kids) a little slack. Know that there will be mistakes and road bumps along the way, but it’s not the end of the world, keep chugging along. Soon enough you’ll be in your new home making new memories together!

How to manage moving day with kids

When moving day arrives, having a few of these things in place will help to make the process run a little more smoothly.

Create a plan: If you’re able to secure childcare for the day, great. If not, create a plan for how you will keep your kids safe and entertained throughout the process.

Plan ahead: Having snacks on hand is always a good idea – especially if you have young children who might get hangry during the move (hey, it happens!).

Allow for flexibility: Kids don’t always stick to the plan, and that’s ok. Allow yourself to be flexible and respond to their needs as needed.

Take breaks: Moving day can be tiring, so be sure to allow yourself (and your kids) the opportunity to take a break throughout the process.

Create a fun atmosphere: Moving doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Allow yourself to get creative with activities that you can do together or tasks they can help out with while moving day is underway. You don’t need anything fancy – it could be as simple as making sure their favorite tunes are playing in the background.

Remember, moving with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little bit of planning and creative thinking, you can make it a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

How to help your children process moving to a new home

From letting them be a part of your home-buying process to creating memory books, travel survival kits, and new room planning, there are so many great ideas to help your kids get through all the changes that can come from leaving an old house behind and settling into a new home. When it comes to making them feel at ease and included, these are some of our favorite activities to build into the moving process:

• Creating a Treasure box for your kids items. Ask your movers for a few boxes ahead of time, let the kids decorate them and fill them with a few of their favorite items, and carry them with you to your new home. They will know where the box is during the whole move and will have it immediately when you arrive at your new house so they will have some of their trusty items to help them settle in right away.
• Pack a moving survival kit. Include must-have items like toilet paper and paper towels, as well as snacks, a few games, books, and other kids items, and a change of clothes and toiletries for everyone just in case you don’t get all your unpacking done on schedule. Did you know we even have a few fun moving day items for kids, including a story book and moving themed coloring book!
• Setup your kids rooms first. While a lot of articles you read talk about setting up commonly used spaces first, creating a place for your kids is a great place to start. This will allow them a quiet place to get away from the chaos and clutter of the move and they will have space to play without adding to the clutter and mess as you finish unpacking and organizing your new home
• Give them fun projects at the new house: Kids probably can’t help with all the heavy lifting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with fun ways to keep them involved as you’re settling into your new home.
• Help them settle into the new neighborhood. Meeting new people and making new friends will be hard for everyone in your family, so make sure you help your kids get acclimated and meet new people too, especially if you are moving further away from friends and family. Attending community events or visiting the neighborhood playground or pool are great ways to meet other families in your area.

More resources for moving with kids

Check out some of our other resources for packing and moving with kids:

• Tips for Packing Your Playroom
• Tips for Starting a New School After You Move
• Packing Hacks for Your Upcoming Move

Simplify your move and leave it to the pros at ADSI Moving Systems

We get it, there’s a lot to get done when it’s time to get moving. Our full-service relocation solutions leave the planning, packing, and heavy lifting to the pros so you can focus on managing the transition with your family. For over 55 years, the team at ADSI has helped families in the Augusta, GA area make moving into a new home as seamless and stress-free as possible. Contact us today for a free quote or to find out more about our services.

Whatever you do, remember that moving with kids can be a great opportunity to create lasting memories— and remember, if you have any questions, we’re here to help! Contact us at 706-793-0186! Or learn more about us online at adsiunited.com