8 Tips For Moving Homes With Children

Moving houses can be stressful enough on its own. But when you add children to the mix, the process has the potential to become even more hectic.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make the experience as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

Here are a few helpful tips for moving homes with children:

Comfort Your Child’s Anxieties

While every kid behaves differently, there’s a big chance that they will feel anxious about leaving the only home they’ve ever known. They’re not just leaving behind a physical space – they’re leaving behind memories, friends, and a sense of comfort and security.

Try to paint the move in a positive light. Reassure them that they will still have you – and that they will have plenty of opportunities to see new things and make new friends in the new location.

Maintain Their Routine Until The Day

Moving can be disruptive for everyone, but it can be especially difficult for children. To help them adjust more easily, try to keep their daily routine as normal as possible.

If they usually have breakfast at 7:00 AM and go to bed at 8:00 PM, stick to those same timings on the days leading to the move. This will help them maintain a sense of normalcy before the big day.

As much as possible, be present around those times as well. The moving process can be chaotic, but spending quality time with your child will help them feel less anxious about the move.

Let Them Help With The Packing

If your child is old enough, let them help with the packing. This will give them a sense of ownership over the move and make it seem less daunting.

Assign them small tasks, such as packing their toys or clothes. For younger children, you can let them help with the packing by giving them stickers to put on boxes.

Moving Homes With Children – Start Packing Early

It’s a good idea to have a timeline in place when planning a move so that you don’t leave anything to the last minute.

As a rule of thumb, packing one month in advance is best. But when you’re moving with children, it might be better to start even earlier. This way, you can avoid the stress of packing while also taking care of your child’s needs.

Focus on packing the items that you won’t need in the weeks leading up to the move. This will help declutter your home and make the packing process less overwhelming for everyone.

Moving Homes With Children – Give Them A “Moving Day Survival Kit”

Before the day of the move, consider planning out a “moving day survival kit” for your child. This should include items that will keep them entertained and comfortable during the move.

Some things you can include are:

• Their favourite toy or stuffed animal
• A change of clothes
• Snacks and drinks
• Books or colouring materials
• Their blanket or pillow

By having a go-to bag for your child, you can avoid the hassle of having to search for their things when they need them. You can also make them feel more engaged and excited about the move.

Get Their Needs Sorted Out

When you’re moving with children, it’s important to get their needs sorted out as early as possible. This includes things like school and health care.

If you’re moving to a new school district, research the schools in the area and find one that would be a good fit for your child. Once you’ve decided on a school, contact the district to find out about the enrolment process.

You should also start looking for a new doctor or clinic in the area well in advance of the move. This way, you can be sure that your child will have access to medical care as soon as they need it.

Moving Homes With Children – Get Some Help

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to take time off work to move. If this is the case for you, it’s important to get some help.

There are plenty of services that can help with heavy lifting, such as professional removalists. You can find Interstate movers with Muval online, and they’re usually just a call away.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can always ask friends and family to help out.

Keep Your Important Documents Close on Moving Day

Moving requires you to multitask, and it’s not unheard of for things to slip beneath cracks every now and then. To ensure that your important documents don’t get lost during transit, keep them secured in a separate bag that’s with you at all times.

Some important documents you can include in this bag are:

• Your child’s birth certificate
• Passports
• Immunization records
• Medical prescriptions
• School records

If you or your child have any medical conditions, be sure to pack their medication and bring it with you on the day of the move as well.