A Complete Guide To Moving a New Home With Children

Moving can be a stressful experience for anyone. And it can be extra challenging for families with children. Whether you’re moving across town or the country, the whole process can disrupt a child’s routine. It might even make them hate moving as they’re leaving everything behind. On top of that, they’ll be entering an environment where everything is new and different. But with proper planning and preparation, you can enjoy moving with your children.

Aside from adjusting to a new environment, moving your stuff can also be frustrating. Since you are with your children, expect that you’ll be carrying plenty of things. While you can leave some stuff behind, it’s best to bring as much to make them feel comfortable. You might need to hire a moving company to help you out. But before you get bombarded with the things to consider for the move, read through this article as this will serve as your complete guide to moving with your kids.

Understand How Relocation Affects Your Child

Not everyone is comfortable with change, especially when it’s significant. Your child can either be excited or sad. Some kids might feel excited about moving to a new environment. However, some might feel sad about leaving everything behind, including their friends, schools, favorite places, and more. 

Moving with teens is the most challenging. They’re going through many changes during this age and moving into a new home might be too overwhelming for them. Younger children might be more comfortable when you show them how fun their new place is. If your children throw a fit about moving, try to keep yourself calm. They’re still processing the idea of moving, and it’s best to give them enough space and time to adjust.

How To Prepare Your Kids For The Move

Moving is difficult for your children. You need to prepare them well to adjust quickly and peacefully. Moreover, the following are some ways to help prepare your children for the move:

• Tell Your Kids Early

You’d never want to surprise your kids about moving.  Unless you’re confident they want to, you should inform your kids as early as possible. When you decide to transfer home, you can let your children know about your next steps. Laying everything abruptly can be too overwhelming and might take the surprise negatively. 

It’s best to let your kids know about the move when you have your house choices. That way, they can feel that everything’s still a process and they don’t need to do everything immediately.

• Listen To Your Children

You can never know what goes through a child’s mind unless you talk to them. Talk with your child and ask them how they feel about the move. Let them express what they really feel about your decision. While they are talking, don’t interrupt them and thoroughly listen to them.

It would be best to let your children feel valued during this step. They might think you’re not considering them in making a big decision, as you’re not asking how they think. Talk to your child and calmly discuss as soon as they’re comfortable hearing them.

• Be Honest About The Move

You need to be honest with your child about why you need to move. Be as transparent as possible. Keeping your children in the loop makes them feel like an essential part of your home.

You can let your child know the exact reason why you’re moving. It could be a work relocation, you need a cheaper home, or your current environment isn’t safe. Talk to your child in a way they can understand the situation.

• Involve Your Child

It’s vital to involve your child in the move. It makes them feel part of the decision rather than someone who just goes along with everything. 

If you’re still picking houses, you can let your child help you decide what kind of home they like. You can show pictures of the room, kitchen, and exterior. You can also let them know the crucial factors you need to consider for their new home. It could be the location, size, cost, and age.

• Give Them Freedom To Design Their Room

A great way to make your child excited about the move is to give them the freedom to design their room. That way, they can start over on how they want their bed to look like. 

It’s best to let your child pick on the color of their bedroom. You can also let them decide how to arrange their furniture. If you have an extra budget, you can buy new furniture to make everything look new. It’ll be great to search for photo inspirations to keep them excited.

• Have A Quick Tour On The Neighborhood

If you’re moving nearby, you can take your child for a quick neighborhood tour. That way, they could glimpse what their environment would look like. 

During your tour, you can show the places they could go to. It could be a new mall, ice cream shop, park, or fun activities they enjoy. Giving a quick tour can make them feel familiar, making adjusting on a moving day easier.

• Discuss That You’ll Keep In Touch

Since your children will be leaving some friends behind, tell them you’ll keep in touch. You can let your child communicate through their phones and call their friends quickly.

You can also visit your old neighborhood if you have time and budget. You can arrange to meet with your child’s old friends during the holidays. Ensuring they can still talk with their friends makes moving more comfortable for your kids.

• Host A Going Away Party

Before you leave home, host a going away party for your kids. You can invite their friends and classmates as they celebrate for the last time. 

For your kid’s going away party, try to make it as memorable as possible. Take as many photos and do as many activities as possible. There’s no overdoing something if it’ll be the last time they can get together happily.

Preparing your kids for a move would never be easy. But as you do it early and right, you can allow for a smooth transition.

When’s The Best Time To Move?

Since children are involved, you must consider their time for a house move. You cannot move any time you want if their schedule could be affected. 

If your children are already attending school, you should move during summertime. That way, the school’s out, and they don’t have to adjust to the mid-school year. They can enjoy the entire school year with their friends and start anew the following year. 

If you still have small children, consider moving first before your child. You can leave your child with their grandparents until you settle in your new home. Relocating around with a child might delay your preparation and might cause accidents. For a faster and safer move, you should consider arranging it before the actual move-in date.

Things To Do Before The Move

Moving into a new home can be gruesome work. You need to prepare plenty of things before the actual move. The following are the things you must do before your moving day:

• Research Local Schools

Your child would have to transfer to a different school and move houses. If you still haven’t decided on a home yet, it’s best to consider researching the local school first. That way, you can guarantee quality education for your child. It can also help them adjust well to their new environment. You can look for a local school first and look at the nearby neighborhood for available homes. 

It’s best to research the school first and see its reputation. Do they produce quality education? Do they provide extra-curricular activities? Does it have good facilities? What’s the environment like? Those factors can determine which school your child should enroll in.

• Search Nearby Essential Establishments

You also need to search for any nearby establishments around the neighborhood. Ideally, your home should be near hospitals, markets, pharmacies, and restaurants. 

For your child’s comfort, you can look for clubs or classes in which your child can participate. A dance group, acting class, or baking workshop could be near your area. Letting your child continue their activities will make them more comfortable in their new environment.

• Plan A Local Bucket List

A great way to foster excitement is by creating a local bucket list on your plan. A local bucket list is several fun things to do in your new town. You can list down everything there is to see in the neighborhood. It could be the park, mall, restaurants, or museums. 

Research everything in your new community. Show your kids the things they can do that are a few miles away. It’ll be a great way to get around the city, know your neighborhood, and be familiar and comfortable with your surroundings.

• Visit Their Pediatrician

It’s best to visit your child’s pediatrician before you move. You can ask your pediatrician to complete the medical history details of your child. That way, your new pediatrician could have a basis for your child’s medical needs. Your pediatrician should include allergies, complete vaccine records, and detailed medical history. 

If you still don’t have a new pediatrician, you can ask your current if they know someone from the area who you can trust. They could give out pediatrician or hospital recommendations you can consider.

Preparing everything before the move is helpful. That way, you won’t leave anything behind and ensure a smooth arrival. It might take hours of research, but it’ll keep everyone happy and comfy. 

What To Do On Moving Day:

Moving day is one of the busiest times you’ll ever have to deal with. If you’re moving to a different city or country, you must prepare your family for the trip. Below are the things you can do on your moving day:

• Time Your Trip Right

If traveling with young children, try to travel during their usual sleep hours. That way, you don’t have to deal with the frequent ‘Are we there yet?’ questions but rather enjoy their sleep.

• Hire A Mover

As highlighted above, moving can be stressful. Hence, hiring a mover makes everything easier. With a moving company, you can let them handle your items and allow yourself to focus on your children. You don’t have to put everything on your plate and hire someone to reduce the workload.

• Pack Plenty Of Snacks And Activities

Moving can take hours, depending on how far you’ll go. To keep your children occupied, bring plenty of snacks to enjoy. Anticipate that they’ll be munching non-stop. So, bring enough food to fill their stomachs. You can also bring activities to keep them occupied. It could be coloring books, puzzles, or music. If you’re traveling by plane, make sure your activities won’t be obstructive.

• Enhance Comfort

Whether traveling by plane, car, or train, it’s best to focus on your child’s comfort. Try to bring as many pillows and blankets as possible. They can also get their favorite stuffed toy to have something to snuggle with. You can also bring kiddie neck pillows to avoid neck pains as they sleep.

Moving day can be hours of boredom and stress. You can keep your child occupied by preparing comfort, snacks, and activities. Just make sure that you bring enough for yourself as well!

Things To Do Upon Arrival

You can’t expect everything to be normal when you arrive in your new home. Your children will be on a roller coaster of emotions. To help them settle, below are the things to do upon your arrival:

• Show Your Kids Around

It’s best to show your kids around when you arrive at your new home. You can give them a quick tour of the house and let them choose which room they should get. Those small steps can help them get excited about your new home and see it as a positive event.

• Unpack Your Children’s Boxes First

While it’s tempting to unpack the kitchen first, you should focus on your children’s boxes. You can make your kid feel comfortable quicker by offloading your kid’s stuff. They’ll surround themselves with familiar things, making them feel safe. You don’t have to set everything up, just enough to move around.

• Keep Your Routine

Moving to a new home is already a significant change. Changing your routine can cause chaos for your child. They might be overwhelmed by how everything changes, making them uncomfortable. Therefore, you should keep your routine. It’s best to eat and sleep during your usual hours. That way, they can understand that only their home changes and not their way of life.

• Make Their First Day Fun

First impressions last. So, to let your children enjoy their new home, make their first day extra memorable. You can play games in the yard or do something new together. You could also make a pizza night and let your kids pick their favorite toppings.

Your arrival day can be hectic. But with fun activities, you can make the day fun and exciting. While some activities are tiring, they’ll surely help your kids adjust better. 

Takeaway

Moving with children can be overwhelming. You’ll have to prepare plenty of things from start to finish. However, you also must prioritize the comfort of your kids. You need to understand their emotions and ensure that they’re in a safe space. Be their friend and try to make the whole process fun and easy. Moreover, it’s best to prepare your home and ensure you know your way around. That way, you can take fun trips, know where to order meals, and enjoy good food.