If a job or other commitment has made it necessary to move, it’s important to put your kid’s needs first. Make the event as stress-free and easy for them as possible, and they will likely have an easier time adjusting to the new place. One way to start the process smoothly is to browse homes on HousingMatchers, where you can explore options that suit your family’s needs. Follow the five tips outlined below to ensure an easy, or even fun, moving experience with your kids.
Hire Professional Movers
The role that professional packers and movers play cannot be underrated. They will know the best ways to pack everything, and because they have the right tools and equipment, it will be easy for them. When you don’t have to deal with the hassle of packing and unpacking, you can focus on more important things such as comforting your children throughout the event. Doing this will also help keep you safe from injury, as when a human being lifts a 10-kilogram box, they put about 180 kilograms of force on their spines.
Get Fun Stickers
To make the event a bit more fun for your kids, buy some fun stickers and use them to label the boxes that have their items in them. You could also print die cut stickers Canada instead and use them if you prefer. Your kid’s favorite cartoon characters or shapes and colors they will love are a few ideas of fun stickers you can use. Make sure to keep their items close when packing so that you can unpack them first when you get to the new house, and they will have an easier time settling down.
Turn On Your New Utilities Ahead of Time
For a seamless experience when you arrive at your new home, make sure that all the utilities have been turned on before you get there. Get the water flowing and the gas and electricity going. This way, you will be able to tell if there is an issue that needs to be dealt with before your family gets to the house. When they can plug in and get going immediately, it’s going to be a great experience as they can get into familiar routines right away and settle down fast. Among custodial parents, 54.7% of them have just one child, so it may be easier to get the new house set up well for them in the event that one parent is moving out with the child.
Talk to Them About Moving
To prepare your child mentally for the move, have a few talks with them about the event. Doing this will make it easy for them to process the situation and have an easier time settling in. Set aside some time to let them know why you’re moving, and where you’re going. Address their concerns about new schools and friends and answer any other questions they may have. Make it an accommodating space in which they can express themselves and validate their emotions so as to ensure they don’t feel like their needs don’t matter.
Do your Packing When the Kids Are at School
If possible, pack while the kids are at school so they don’t feel overwhelmed by the whole exercise. With about 130,930 K-12 schools in America, your child will probably be in session unless you’re moving during the holidays. This can also be the time to put extra clutter in a storage space. You may consider renting a storage unit from a local self storage facility. If they want to help and have free time, let them do so, but don’t push them to do it if they would rather not. They’re probably feeling emotions that they have a hard time processing, and witnessing the home they’re familiar with being turned upside down may upset them. Let the event be as fast as possible and don’t draw it out. Adjusting to a new school academically can be tough, too. With 87% of private schools having 300 or fewer students, you can make sure your child has the academic support they need.
When planning to move houses, whether you’re going across the country or across town, it can be a bit upsetting for your children. Give them an easy time and make sure to put their needs first so that they take a shorter time to acclimate to the new home.
