Moving With Children

Let’s admit it. Moving can be a very stressful experience! Add children into it, and it can have you clenching your fist and banging your head on the wall. If you have children and you are thinking of moving, then the good news is that it doesn’t have to be terrible, if you plan ahead and use these tips to make things smoother.

1. Prepare them: Whether the move has been necessitated by a job transfer, or a divorce, or a pursuit for better life, you have to prepare you children for the move. Explain to them why you need to move, and reassure them that the move is for better. You have to consider that relocating can be quite hard and confusing to children, as they will be leaving behind a familiar environment, their friends and school. To avoid tantrums, tears and yelling during the move, ensure that they know what is happening and they have an understanding as to why you are moving. If your children are older, you can have them throw a go away party to invite some of their friends and tell them a proper goodbye. It gives them closure and makes them ready for the new chapter.

2. Involve them: It helps to get the children involved in the moving process. Even though you may have hired a moving company in Houston to help with some heavy stuff, you can have the children help to put lift things like toys into boxes or any light task that will keep them busy. When you involve the children in packing and loading stuff on the moving truck, then you prepare them psychologically to accept that the move is happening. By involving them, you can also teach them the essence of sharing by asking them to donate what they will not need to charitable organizations.

3. Get help: Whether it is from a moving company, or friends and relatives, you should always ask for help when it comes to packing and ensuring that the children are all organized and ready for the move. If you have very young children, you can ask for a relative to take them in so that they don’t disturb you as you make the final touches in moving.

4. Carry food: On the day of moving, ensure that you have bought food, snacks and drinks so that they do not get fussy and hungry during transportation and unpacking, especially if you are moving to a relatively far place. Keep the snacks healthy and avoid giving them sugar, as you may not want them having a sugar high and causing chaos as you move.

5. Keep them entertained: Kids have a low attention span, and in as much as they may appear all excited about the move, as soon as you get into the moving truck, they are likely to get bored and start seeking your attention. To avoid this, make sure that you carry some of their favorite toys, books and music to entertain them with. You can do things together to make it more fun, like finding a simple song to learn, and singing it as you travel. You can also have a fun CD and sing along with the children to make the journey more interesting.

6. Pack their favorite stuff in an easy to identify box: Sometimes, settling in and unpacking in your new home can take time. You may end up with boxes scattered all over, and if your children have favorite things, they may get irritable if they can’t find them. Do they have something they value and they want to have all the time? Such things should be packed in unique boxes, probably decorated and well labelled so that you do not spend time opening boxes in an attempt to find them.

7. Give them time: When you get into your new home, do not expect your children to blend in and integrate immediately They may appear withdrawn and miss their old home. Some of them may even act out and say things like : “I want to go home, I hate this place..” or other things you may consider rude. Give them time and allow them to adjust into their new home, and in no time. They will be fine.

Moving with children doesn’t have to be stressful. All you need is to prepare them adequately for their new beginning, and support them in all ways.