5 Smart Tips on Moving with Kids

If you’ve ever moved with kids, you know that the entire process can feel more like a battle than a positive transition. Even if you’re moving to an exciting new home in a neighborhood your kids will eventually come to love, children don’t often see it this way, and the experience of moving can stress them out and wear them down. Luckily, there are things you can do to make the process of moving with kids easier.

5 Tips on Moving with Kids

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

When it comes to moving with kids, asking for help can be a lifesaver. As a general rule, adults understand how stressful and trying moving can be. Your friends, family, and neighbors are often more than willing to help with the kids while you work on getting packed and relocated. If you have loved ones making these offers, don’t hesitate to take them up on it.

While it may seem like an imposition, you need to remember that these people are offering because they want to help, and that the entire process will go much more smoothly if you just let them.

2. Get the kids involved in the process

To make moving easier on the kids, give them a job where they can be active participants. While there are obviously some moving jobs that aren’t appropriate for kids, they’ll generally do well filling a large box with their clothing or putting their favorite toys into a bin for safe transport.

By giving kids a job during the moving process, you’re simultaneously keeping them busy (and out from underfoot) and helping mitigate any anxiety they may have about moving by getting them involved in the process.

3. Maintain a sense of normalcy wherever possible

One of the things that’s the most difficult for kids during moving is the upset in routines. Typically, families in the midst of a move stop eating dinner at the table (or stop cooking altogether) forgo family game night, or stop having playdates. While these things make sense to adults, they can be upsetting to kids. With this in mind, try to maintain as much normalcy as possible.

Mealtimes are a great way to do this. Instead of succumbing to order-in meals every night of the week, try to plan ahead and cook meals as always. This gives kids something to plan on and can be a helpful way to mitigate the upset they may be feeling.

4. Save some jobs for when the kids aren’t around

There are moving responsibilities that kids just shouldn’t be involved in. To make things like de-cluttering and getting rid of unneeded household items easier, schedule these things for times when the kids are with friends or family members.

This will save you from having to explain why you’re getting rid of toys (Even though they never use them), for example, or dealing with breakdowns at Salvation Army or the dump.

5. Make it fun wherever possible

If you can make moving a game, kids will do much better. Consider making a game of it, like offering prizes for whoever can pack fastest or for whoever does the best job of carrying boxes outside.

Tips on moving are especially critical for families with kids. Luckily, these five tips can help make moving with small kids easy and stress-free.