Whether it’s to the next town over or halfway across the country, moving can be nerve-wracking. House hunting, choosing what to pack and what to leave behind and settling into a new place can stress anyone out. Moving can become even more stressful if you have children. Many children will feel nervous and scared during a move. It is your job as a parent to make the moving process as easy as possible for your children. Here are some tips for moving with children.
Tell Your Children the News During Nice Dinner
It is important to tell your children the news of the move in a pleasant environment. For example, you can take them to their favorite pizza restaurant and tell them about it there. As you are telling them about the news, be sure to have some excitement in your voice. Your children will be much more likely to like the idea of moving if you make it seem exciting.
Get Your Children Involved in the Room
Getting your children involved in the moving process is a wonderful way to make them feel included. For example, you can have them help you decide on what to toss and what to keep. Ask them to go through their belongings and put the items they want to keep in special boxes. Another thing you can do is have them help you organize a moving sale. Ask them to help you put prices on the items and decide how you will spend the money you earn.
Throw a Going Away Party
It is important to throw a going away party so that your children have a chance to say goodbye to their friends. Let your children invite all of their friends from school to the party at least a week before you move. If you do not want to throw the party at your house, consider having it at another venue like a pizza parlor.
Hire a Professional Moving Company
It will cost you some extra money, but hiring a professional moving company can decrease your responsibilities on moving day. If you let a moving company do most of the work, you can spend most of the day watching and comforting your children.
Visit the New Home Before the Move
If the new home is not too far from where you currently live, you should take your children to visit it before you move. In addition to letting them see the house, explore the new neighborhood with them. The transition will be much easier for them if they become familiar with their new home and town beforehand.
Listen to Their Questions and Concerns
The thought of moving to a new town can be very scary for children, so make sure to always listen to their questions and concerns. Whether your children are worried about making new friends or sad about leaving their current ones, always be there for them.
Moving with children might not be the easiest thing to do, but it does not have to be an unpleasant experience. If you follow these helpful tips, you can ease their discomfort.
Jason Winslow is a professional blogger that enjoys providing business with logistics advice. He writes for The Freight Dude, a leading freight shipping company.
posted on 21 February at 16:04
Great tips! Hiring a professional moving company will make your move more efficient, and like you said, decrease your responsibilities on move day. For help, consider Unpakt.com, a comparison pricing site for moving services. You may also consider letting the kids label their own boxes (markers & fun stickers). Unpacking their rooms first will help keep them calm while you unpack the remainder of the house. And, finally, keep the kids away from the moving site if possible - a play date or babysitter may be a good alternative.