Moving is stressful. Add children to the equation, and it can feel like an impossible task. From finding appropriate storage for all your stuff to ensuring the kids are entertained, it can seem like an impossible feat.
Not to mention, moving is a time of transition. As a result, children may experience some anxiety about the move, and it can be challenging to take their worries seriously when they’re at such a young age.
As you prepare for your big move, you should take steps that will help make everything run smoothly. Below, you will find tips on how exactly you can make this happen.
Ways On How To Make Moving With Kids Easy
Here are some things you will want to remember when moving with your children in tow:
Make Sure Your Kids Are Prepared For The Move
There are many things you can do to prepare your kids for the move. The first of which is telling them about it as soon as possible. The sooner you tell your kids about the move, the better. To make this transition as easy for them as possible, they should be aware that it’s happening, so they don’t feel blindsided by it later on down the line. Moreover, doing this will also provide them with more than enough time to process and adjust to the idea of moving houses.
During this time, it would also be ideal for you to be ready for any questions regarding the move and whatever may happen during the entire moving process. Remember to answer their questions as honestly and as straightforward as you can.
When it is time to say goodbye, make sure to let your kids know that they can say goodbye to whomever they want to say goodbye to. You may do this by making cards for the people you’ll be behind or host a goodbye party with friends and family, and even have them make a list of the people they want to invite.
However this goodbye goes, though, you must reassure them that these goodbyes are only temporary. Let them know that while you’ll all miss the people you’ll be leaving behind, you can always come back to visit.
You might also reassure your children that they will be able to call and text as much as they want during this period of their lives. So, be sure to have your kids exchange contact information with their closest friends.
Lastly, keep it low-key. If you are stressed about the move, so is your child. Kids, after all, are incredibly empathetic and impressionable. So give them plenty of reassurance that everything will be ok – even if they don’t understand why this change has happened now.
Create A Moving Checklist
To make the move more bearable and less overwhelming, you should create a moving house checklist, which is essentially an inventory of what needs to get done before the big day arrives. You will also want to plan a moving schedule and an overall breakdown of the moving budget alongside your checklist. Here are some tips on Creating A Moving Budget.
With all these things planned out and finalised, it will be much easier for you to focus on your kids and your family’s needs and not worry about the little things. This will also ensure that your move is as easy and as smooth as possible!
Rent A Self Storage Unit
If you have a lot of stuff to move but don’t know where to start from, then rent a self storage unit. There are, after all, several ways a storage unit can help make your move less stressful.
For example, your move-in and unpacking won’t be rushed or stressful. You can take your time without feeling the pressure of finishing up all you need to do as soon as you step into the house. This means you can focus on helping your kids adjust and get to know the new place better.
When you move into a new house, keeping the new place clean and immaculate for as long as possible is a must. However, having kids around will make this feat more challenging than it would typically be. Fortunately, having a storage unit makes it much easier!
If you are worried about the safety and security of your belongings in storage, know that you don’t have to be! After all, self storage facilities offer the following features that make them the perfect solution for families with kids:
- Security features like individually controlled access and round-the-clock surveillance cameras provide peace of mind. That means you’ll never have to worry about someone coming into your storage unit and stealing anything without permission. What’s more, many units are equipped with an alarm system that will sound if anyone tries to break in!
- A wide array of unit sizes, thus ensuring that every family can find the perfect size for their needs.
- A convenient location that is always accessible by car or public transit makes it easy and affordable to come into town at any time.
- Climate-controlled storage units ensure a consistent temperature throughout the year to protect fragile goods such as textiles, paper products, electronics. This, in turn, ensures that your belongings do not acquire superficial, internal, or structural damage. labelling
- Friendly staff members whom you can trust.
The best part about self storage facilities? You never have to worry about them being too costly for your needs and your liking. Most self storage companies charge their clients on various things surrounding their own house move. These factors include price, unit size, location, features, and so much more.
“If you are planning on renting a self storage unit, make sure to check out a handful of storage companies in your area to make sure you are getting the best storage deals possible.” WhatStorage, an online marketplace for storage units in Manchester, London, Glasgow, and many other areas in the UK, advises its clients.
Find A Reliable Mover
When you are trying to pack up your family home, it is hard enough for parents with children at their side. These kids can be distracting while they ask questions about the new house or wonder aloud where their favourite toy will go in the next place. With so much change happening all around them and no clear answers on how this all works out, just getting through packing day might not seem like a walk in the park for these little ones either.
Hiring a removals company is the quickest way to get moved and packed up. Aside from giving you time to focus on helping your kids cope, it will also give you some much-needed peace of mind to focus on the most important tasks related to the move.
This will also make it so that you don’t need to give up your day job in order to be there for every single packing detail and move as well. Read more about why moving house should be entrusted to professionals here.
Get Your Child Involved In The Moving Process
Involve your child with the moving process as much as possible. You will want to make them feel that they are helping out rather than slowing the moving process down. They can help with packing up their room, decorating their new room, labelling boxes, and even taking care of the family pets amidst the chaos.
Find Ways To Occupy Them
Moving is a tedious and cumbersome thing for most people, but it’s especially hard on the kids. This is especially true when they have already completed their moving tasks. Hence, you need to find ways to entertain and occupy them in their downtime.
From box decorating competitions to giving them colouring pages, there are a lot of options that you can use to help them pass the time. If they are old enough, try teaching them some basic household tasks so that they will feel useful while helping out with the moving process.
Final Thoughts
Moving with kids can be a challenging task. But, the tips mentioned above should help you make it much easier and more enjoyable for both you and your kids. Do remember, though, that the adjustment period after the move will look differently on everybody.
That means kids will either adapt pretty quickly or struggle to find comfort in their new environment. For the latter, it is crucial that you be patient and understanding with them during this difficult time. It’s essential, after all, to understand your child’s needs and what they need from you to feel safe after a move.
