If you’ve ever moved with kids, you know that the entire process can feel more like a battle than a positive transaction. Even if you’re moving to an exciting new home in a new neighbourhood your kids will come to love, children don’t often see it that 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 a lot easier.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
When it comes to moving with kids, asking for help can be a life saver. As a general rule, adults understand how stressful and trying moving can be. Your friends, family and neighbours are often more than willing to help with the kids while you get packed and relocated. If you have loved ones making these offers, don’t hesitate to take them up on it.
While it seems 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.
Getting the kids involved in the process
To make moving easier on the kids, give them a job that they can be active participants. While there are obviously some moving jobs that aren’t kid appropriate, they’ll generally do well filling a box with clothing and packing up their toys.
By giving the kids a job during the moving process, you’re keeping them busy and helping mitigate any anxiety they may have about moving by getting them involved.
Maintain a sense of Normalcy wherever possible
One of the things that is the most difficult for kids during moving is the upset in routine. 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.
Save some jobs for when the kids are not 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 aren’t home.
This will save you for having to explain why you’re getting rid of toys (even though they never use them) for example or dealing with breakdowns at Value Village.
Make it fun wherever possible
If you can make moving a game, kids will do much better. Consider making a game of it, like offer prizes for whoever can pack the fastest, or whoever does the best job with carrying the boxes out of the house.
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.
Maureen Seguin | Century 21 In Town Realty