Moving with Kids: 15 Tips for A Smooth Move

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Moving is never easy. But once you’ve made the decision to move, it’s because you’ve decided this is what’s best for your family. 

But between packing, hauling, and adjusting to a new environment, moving with kids can quickly turn into a nightmare for you and your family if you’re not intentional about how you do it. 

I should know. Since 2020, my family (including three kids under six) has moved four times. I’m by no means an expert mover, but I have learned a thing or two about moving with kids. And I’d love to share my hard-fought lessons with you, so you can enjoy a less stressful moving experience. 

Use these tips to make things go as smoothly as possible and help your little ones adjust to their new surroundings.

How to Tell Your Kids They’re Moving

First things first, you have to tell your kids about the move. And while you may be worried, I’ve learned that kids are a lot more flexible than we give them credit for. 

Yes, they’re leaving the only world they’ve ever known, but if you present it as an adventure and an opportunity to explore and make new friends, then they’re more likely to greet the challenges with a positive mindset. 

However, if you project your own fears and worries onto them while breaking the news, they’re more likely to be anxious about the change. 

So don’t treat moving as if you’re uprooting their whole world and turning it upside down. It’s a new neighborhood, not a new solar system. They can have long-distance friends and make new ones. 

Sure, there will be an adjustment period. But children are more resilient than we give them credit for. They’ll probably adjust faster than you do – mine certainly did. 

Don’t delay…

  • Tell your kids that you are moving 
  • Tell them why, the honest truth
  • Answer their questions patiently 
  • Find reasons for them to be excited
  • Assure them that real friendship lasts forever – no matter how far apart you are. 

How to Pack: 10 Tips for Moving With Kids

Once you’ve got the kids on board, it’s time to get packing. Here are 10 steps to make moving with kids easier.

Tip #1: Sort, Sort, Sort!

Before you even start packing, sort

Use this time to declutter by sorting into three piles: Keep, throw away, donate/sell. You can do this with your kiddos – depending on their age, of course.

Once you know what you’re keeping, then you can think about packing. And since your children were a part of the process, they won’t feel slighted when they unpack less than they had before.

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Tip #2: Keep Some Familiar Routines

    Especially for younger children who are going to a new community, it’s important to keep some parts of their lives the same. You want them to know that their world isn’t ending just because they’re moving to a new space. When dealing with a total upheaval (like a move), kids find comfort in the consistencies (i.e., a consistent snacktime or a consistent morning routine) 

    Something we focused on during our moves was keeping our bedtime routine. Brush your teeth. Get your jammies on. And then we all read stories together before bed. 

    It helps them wind down from all the excitement while reinforcing the idea that mommy and daddy still have time for you. 

    Tip #3: Don’t Project Your Stress Onto Your Children

      Your kids are probably a little nervous and anxious about being the new kid in a new city. And you’re probably feeling that yourself – even as an adult. So when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed with everything that needs doing, don’t put it all off your kids. 

      Take a deep breath and assess what you need. 

      • Do you need to talk things through with a friend? 
      • Do you need to get a babysitter so that you can have some uninterrupted packing time? 
      • Do you need a movie night with kids?

      While it’s good to involve your kiddos, they don’t have to be a part of every step of the process. 

      Your kids pick up on your energy, so do your best to stay positive during the moving process. This is especially important while settling into your new surroundings.

      Tip #4: Have a Clear Labeling System

        Keeping all the boxes organized is a daunting task. Some people like labeling the box with a Sharpie. Others print out stickers with the floor plan of the new house to stick on every box. Then they mark which new room the box is going to. 

        The kid-friendly option is to get colorful stickers or tape to mark each box for fast and easy identification. Whichever you choose, make sure everyone is on the same page and labels the same way. 

        Tip #4: Pack in Stages

          Moving is the state of constantly going back and forth between “Get it all packed now!” and “Oh, no! I already packed that.” But you can avoid that hassle by packing in stages.

          The first stage is packing those things that you rarely use. This should start as soon as you’ve closed on the house and you know you’re moving. You break the news to the kids and now start slowly packing things like books and holiday decor.

          This is the best stage to get younger children involved and excited because you’re not in a rush yet. They can be in charge of the tape when you’re done packing a box.   

          The second stage is packing up the things you can live without for a month or two. 

          We all have tons of small appliances that make our lives easier: a griddle for Saturday morning pancakes, a bread machine, the Instapot, a Cuban press, a rice cooker, a cappuccino machine…you get the idea. 

          But we don’t use them every day or even every month. These are the appliances you pack up in stage two and store.

          Stage three is when everything else gets packed.  You’ll pack your overnight bag with clothes and toiletries – and even the kids’ stuffed animals.

          Stage four is the inevitable stage everyone hates: the final inspection. This is the phase where you’ll walk through your house to make sure you’ve packed everything, and inevitably, you’ll find a bunch of little things stashed in corners and on top shelves that need packing! 

          Slap it all in moving boxes and label it “random.” It’s time to go!

          Packing in stages helps you get packed neatly without the inconvenience of living without necessities for longer than necessary. But it also helps kids cope with moving because things don’t just disappear overnight. It’s a progression. 

          It’s also easier to keep the kids involved. Without the rush, younger kids can bring things to you to pack and be in charge of the tape. Older children can label and carry boxes to be stored. 

          When they help out, kids feel like they’re a part of the decision, and they transition better.  

          Tip #5: Make a Moving-Week Plan for the New House

            If you’ve been prioritizing your packing, then moving week is a part of stage three. For sure, there are a lot of moving parts here. You’re making a lot of trips to the storage unit. Packing everything in sight that’s not nailed down. And then you’ve got normal daily life to keep up with. 

            So sit down with your kids – especially older kids who can take on more responsibility – and make a timeline with milestones that you’d like met before the big day. This gives everyone the big picture, so they know what’s expected of them.

            Tip #6: Make an Age-Appropriate Moving Checklist 

              Once they have the big picture, you can delegate the individual tasks to appropriate family members. 

              Recruiting your children to handle specific jobs takes the pressure off you. Children can pack their own clothes in boxes. When it comes time to clean, they can wipe down counters, windows, floors, clean bathtubs, and wipe mirrors. 

              Parents don’t have to do everything. In fact, I’ve learned that not being involved troubles kids. They start to feel like they don’t belong or are just in the way. 

              So, while you may have to follow behind them and re-do some things, it’s worth it to let them help.  

              Tip #6: Say Goodbye to Your Old House

                Your kids may have a hard time saying goodbye to your old house – especially if it’s the only place they’ve ever lived. Let them know that those memories are good and they can always keep them, even after they say goodbye to the house. To preserve those memories, you could take a family picture in front of the house or put together a memory book to give them (after you’ve finally settled in your new home). 

                Tip #7: Plan Out Their New Room 

                  After all the positive energy you’ve put into the move, do something exciting that they can look forward to. For my girls, planning out their new room got them excited. By the end, they were begging to move in. 

                  Tip #8: Make New Friends 

                    Use your move as a fresh start. Moving with kids means finding new playmates for them and you. Take advantage of your new neighbors’ curiosity and arrange a time to introduce yourself and ask questions about your new town. You’ll start to develop a relationship and learn where you might find other parents of children your age.

                    Bonus Tip: Find Storage Nearby

                      Especially, if you have a few months between your move-out date and your move-in date, you’ll need a storage space for in-between moves

                      You’re going to be going back and forth a lot. Trust me; I’ve been there. And the closer your storage space is to your home, the better. Using storage space that’s close to home saves time and gas money. 

                      That’s where Neighbor can help. 

                      Neighbor.com provides a peer-to-peer storage marketplace where you can find safe, affordable monthly storage that’s close to home. 

                      Conclusion

                      Adding kids – with their big emotions and loud opinions – to an already stressful situation doesn’t have to end with your head exploding. Answer their questions and concerns, then channel their boundless energy to get the moving done. 

                      If you allow your kids to be a part of the moving process, you’re bound to have a much easier move. And then, you can settle down to making your new house a home.

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