Moving can be stressful. It can be even more stressful when there are children involved. From preparing the family for the move, to the packing itself, you may have quite a daunting task on your hands. It is not uncommon for children to exhibit a range of emotions from sadness to anger, and even anxiety when it comes to moving to a new area. Yet moving is often a fact of life.
Here is how you can help to make the move smooth and as painless as possible–both for yourself–and your entire family:
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Prepare Your Family
Discuss the move as soon as you have a chance to do so with your children. Explain why the move is necessary and answer any questions that they may have to the best of your ability. When possible, take them to the new home and show them around. Show them where their bedrooms will be, or if possible, allow them to pick out their own space. Envision with them how they will fill their new room.
Ask your child or children to create a list of things that will help them transition better, and be sure to follow through on their requests, within reason. The point is to try to make the move fun and exciting instead of a frightening experience.
Consider Young Children
If you happen to be moving with toddlers or children under five years of age, keep your explanations clear cut and simple. Get out toy trucks and furniture (if your child has these types of toys) and act out how the move will transpire. Also assure your child when you are packing their things that you are not disposing of their property, but packing it away to make sure it is safe for the travel to the new home.
Try not to require your young child to embrace any other big changes, such as potty training, during the transition period, otherwise they could become overwhelmed. Lastly, when it comes to moving day, try to arrange a sitter for your young child so that they are not amid the chaos that tends to come with moving day and that they are not under-foot during the move.
Make a Checklist
The weeks leading up to moving day can be crucial for your family as you pack up your belongings and prepare for your move. The pros over at Mayflower moving company say to begin decluttering your home about eight weeks prior to the move, if possible.
Start by getting rid of unwanted or unused items. You can hold a garage sale or simply donate those items. If there are items you are not sure of bringing to your new home or throwing away, you can rent a storage unit and wait for the time that you can sort them out. The more that you clear out, the less you will have to pack, it will make the move smooth and not so cluttered.
When packing, it is helpful to color coordinate your belongings by room. What this means is you can buy different color packing tape or various colored markers and assign a specific color to each room. For example, mark all boxes holding kitchen items with a green marker, and all living room items can be marked with a blue marker or blue tape. Organizing in this manner can help immensely in the long run, especially if you intend to hire a professional moving company.
Say Goodbye
Give your kids and family a chance for closure by throwing a goodbye party. At this party, you can have all your guests sign a book and include their mailing address and phone number so that you can stay in touch. It’s also really easy to print out postcards with your family’s new address and phone number to give out at the party. This will be a good time to reminisce about life at the old home and set positive intentions for the new home as well.
Moving might seem stressful or overwhelming for your family, especially if you have children. Young children may especially be confused as to why they must leave behind friends and their old home. Furthermore, packing and organizing, and then unpacking and settling in can sometimes be chaotic. However, parents can make the move smooth, a lot less painful, and even make the experience fun and exciting by following these helpful tips.
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