It can seem overwhelming to move house with children. We’ve done it many times and have some tips to help you get through it too.
Parents and guardians know that each child is unique. Some children need to embrace change while others need to adjust. Although the best approach to each person will be different, here are some simple tips that can help ease the transition.
1- Take your Time
Moving is an overwhelming task, whether you have dependents or not. It will help to allow yourself time to move between properties, which will decrease the pressure and stress of packing and cleaning. If you have limited babysitting time, it is a good idea to start with the bigger things, like disassembling bed frames so that your professional furniture removalists can simply pick up and load into the truck.
2- Ask for Help
Do not be afraid to ask your family and friends for help. You can rely on your friends and family to help you through this difficult transition. Otherwise tap into your wider social network and see if anyone out there who can lend a helping hand. You could be surprised at how many people are willing to offer their help, whether they are helping with school drop-offs, meals, and babysitting during loading and unloading. If you have particularly good relations with your neighbors too, don’t be afraid to ask.
3- Make Sure you have a “Essentials” Box
If you are moving while the kids are still in school, make sure you keep all their school books in bags, snacks that they normally bring, lunch boxes etc. This will save you from finding and locating these essential items during the packing process. Which can turn out to be quite displacing. You can also pack important documents, toilet paper, bathroom essentials in your essential items box. Your children can even help you pack the essential box. This will help them feel involved and will get them thinking about what is important to them as well.
4- Give your Kids Some Notice
Kids need time to adjust and will take longer to digest the news that what adults do. So remember, to speak to them about the move and how they are feeling so they feel like they are a part of the process of moving and it’s not just whatever mum and dad says. Kids have feelings and they should be validated and listened to. This will pave the way to a successful move when everyone is on the same page and knows what is happening. No matter if they are 6 years old or 16 years old, kids would have established a sense of belonging to their current place and that is why you should give them enough notice to digest the news along with enough time to say goodbye to the place and friends.
5- It’s an Adventure!
Travelling with your children is a great way for your children to get to know the area and to increase excitement. You can approach moving as an adventure. Exploring new parks, playgrounds and shops can help you create excitement for the next chapter. In the same way, it can help everyone adjust smoothly by involving them in playful decision-making. It can be as easy as taking your children’s input into the design of their new rooms. A good idea would if at all possible is to take a mini holiday to the place that you are moving to just to get a sense of the neighborhood, towns, shops, and even schooling that your children may be attending. Doing this can help kids familiarize themselves with the new environment that they will eventually be moving to but in a more exciting and adventurous manner.
Collaborating on as many aspects of the moving process together as possible can help instill a sense of teamwork that is very helpful in times of instability.
6- Listen to your Kids
It is a good idea to talk about the house moving with your children before the big day. We’re Moving House by Sam Taplin is a children’s book that gently introduces young children to the idea of moving house and explains each part of the process in a reassuring calm way. It’s lighthearted and relatable for children.
By having a conversation through the introduction of a book will help them open up what it would be like, gives them an opportunity to voice their concerns and have them addressed also, so when it’s not too much of a shock when the kids see the hired movers marching in their bedroom picking up their favorite box of toys.
7- Recognize Charities and Recycle
Donating unwanted items to local charities is an excellent way to help them move, especially downsizing. It can be a great opportunity to teach your children about the importance of supporting non-profits and recycling old goods.
8- Keeping your Routines
It is easy to maintain normality by keeping your family routines intact in a new location. This is a great way to help kids adjust to a new environment, especially if they have relocated far from their family. Even if one of the routines was to go to the local farmers market every Sunday and have a delicious homemade style burek. You can try and find some new place in replacement of this family routine. This will allow your kids to find some form of familiarity and normality.
9- Make Sure to Take Plenty of Breaks
You need to ensure that your family is regularly able to sit down together, have a snack, or eat a meal, and that you are hydrated. It can be exhausting to move. Keep in touch with your family every hour to ensure you have energy and endurance.
10- Take it Easy When Unpacking
It’s easy to feel pressured to get everything in order as soon as you move into your new home. It is often easier to accept the fact that unpacking can take several days, if not weeks. Then you can focus on the important things. Are all beds made? Is the kitchen at least ready to cook meals. Are the children’s rooms setup and have every essential item they need. If you can get the bare essentials items unpacked for each room to function such as beds assembled, access to soap and toiletries, basic cooking utensils and fridge is up and running then that is all that is need to comfortably begin settling into your new place and the rest can take its own accord without pressure.
It can be difficult to move house with children. But if you use these tips, you will find it bearable and even enjoyable
