How to Move With Children
Moving is tough enough on its own without little ones scampering about. Yet many families pack up their bags and move every day with their children in tow.
It’s not easy to move with small children, but it’s possible. Whether you have one, two or 10, hauling children to your new home is doable with the right resources.
Have a Can-Do Attitude
As with life, moving requires the right attitude. It’s natural to feel stressed when you look at the long checklist of thing to do, but it will feel a little easier when you change your mindset.
The key is to keep your eyes on the prize. You’re moving to a brand new place and that means new beginnings.
Think of that every day when you face challenges and it will keep you moving forward.
Your can-do attitude will help your children as well. Children easily take on the stress of their parents so it’s important that you support them.
If your children are older they may be struggling to come to terms with leaving the home they know well, so encourage them to open up to you in case they need encouragement.
Ask for Help
If you have small children, packing not only your stuff but also theirs is a chore. You still need to take care of them the way you would daily, possibly still work, and squeeze all of your packing into your free time.
If this is too much, ask a close friend or family member if they would do you the favour of taking care of your children for the day. Maybe your kids can have a day with the grandparents or play outside with the neighbours’ kids.
If they’re older, encourage them to go to a friend’s house.
No family nearby? Find a babysitter through the trusty UrbanSitter app.
Assign Tasks to Your Kids
If your children are old enough to walk and talk, they are old enough to contribute. Giving your kids small tasks is a great way to help both you and them.
Keep them busy and out of trouble by assigning simple tasks like making labels or wrapping fragile objects in bubble wrap. You can also allot chores, such as doing the dishes after dinner, dusting, or vacuuming to keep the place clean while you pack.
Plan Their Rooms
You don’t need to actively plan their entire room yet but you can inspire them to look forward to their new digs. Talk together about what you may be able to do like paint the walls, get new furniture and other design projects that will get them excited.
Bring a Special Bag of Toys
While you are on the road keep a special bag of their favourite toys handy to keep them entertained. Put special dolls, blankets and activities in the bag to give them a fun outlet.
This also a good idea while you’re packing—pack away most of their toys and have them pick a few that are their favourite that they can take with them.
Bring a Cooler
No matter the weather, an old-fashioned cooler will go a long way. Store water, juice, fruit and other chilled treats to keep you and your kids nourished.
You can also stock up on food in case of an emergency.
Stop and See the Sights
Moving should feel like an adventure for them and you may pass by landmarks or interesting things they may never see again. Check out the locales on the way that are worth popping out of the car for.
It gives you a breather and it allows them to experience something new.
Don’t be in a Hurry
Plan enough time before, during and after the move so that you don’t stress. Make time to find your new place to accelerate the process of credit checks and tenant background searches so you can move in right away.
After your family moves into the new place, take a day to relax and only unpack the essentials. They will be just as tired as you, so kickback for a day and order a pizza to celebrate your journey together.
You can make moving fun for your children. Making things fun and easy for them starts with your attitude and your plan.
Happy trails!
*This is a collaborative post.
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