Moving can be stressful especially when moving with kids. I put together a list that I used to help me through my recent move from Indiana to Texas! Hopefully this list will help make your move go more smooth! Happy Moving!
1. Research.
Before moving, research the new city you are going to be living in. Find kid friendly things that city has to do and make a big list. Then have a family meeting and present to the kids what you have found. My kids loved looking online at all the theme packs, water parks, and splash pads. If possible, visit the city you are moving to so they will be excited and not so nervous.
2. Map the Move.
Whether you are flying or driving, let the kids in on the fun. I printed out maps for all my kids and we showed them exactly where we were going which roads we were taking to get there, and fun things to do along the way.
3. Get Some Help.
Yes, we all love our kids, but sometimes it is nice to have some help! Friends and family usually love to help and say their last goodbyes. You could even hype up a play date pary week for the kids. Pick their most favorite people and friends to watch them for periods of time. And when the kids are gone, it will make you work faster and harder.
4. De-clutter.
One of the hardest things to do when kids are awake is to get rid of their unwanted toys, papers airplanes, or any other items they don’t play with. Just be sure once you have de-cluttered their items, put them in a safe place before you give them to Goodwill. If they find the bag of toys, not only will they be mad at you, but it will be even harder to get rid of them. (this I know from experience) ha ha.
5. Say Goodbye.
Moving is hard on children. A few weeks before you move, have the kids write good bye notes, and thank you notes to friends and neighbors. Be sure to include your new address so your old friends can still keep in touch with you and your kids.
6. The Moving Bag.
2 weeks before you move, let your kids pack a special back pack that is just for them. Have them pack their favorite toys, and things to do while you can pack. We even went to the Dollar Store and bought some little toys that will keep them busy while I pack.
7. Little Jobs.
Give kids simple jobs to help them feel apart of the moving process. I would usually get a box and let them fill it with stuffed animals and other toys. The kids loved to help and it packed some boxes that I would have to do myself.
8. Little Artists.
I don’t know about you, but big brown boxes are a hit at our house. I brought brand new marker and crayons and let the kids go to town. It kept them busy for hours! (Don’t worry, I made sure the “Plan to get rid of Ensley” didn’t go through.)
9. Keep Buying Groceries.
Moving with kids is a completely different experience compared to moving with no children. As adults we can make due with whatever is in the pantry. Kids are different. I still want them to eat fruits and veggies so we won’t have upset stomachs during the move. Moving across the country can take a few days with kids (and a lot of potty stops). You are also going to be eating out the whole trip. I recommend going to the grocery store a week before you leave. It is not only good for your family but it will save you a lot of money.
10. Kids and Moving Day.
We gave ourselves 4 days to pack up our Relo-Cubes. It was the perfect amount of time and we didn’t feel rushed at all. If you are looking for kid friendly way to move, I highly suggest U-Pack’s Relo-Cubes. They sit right on the ground so I don’t have to worry if my kids are balancing on the edge of the trailer. U-Pack also comes and picks up your containers and ships them to your destination. It takes the stress our of moving so you can stress about other things… like your kids.
For more information about Relo-Cubes you can go HERE.
Be careful when you let them mark the boxes too. I got in trouble once by marking the car 😉
Great ideas! I am very worried that we are moving house with two small kids and I really want to make this experience as pleasant as possible for them! We are not moving so far, but still there is something like 150 km that we have to travel with all our things! Thanks for the lovely ideas! I will definitely try to get the kids involved ! 🙂
I really loved these tips. I have used quite a number of them with my little gal and they really worked well. In fact if you can throw a see you soon party, take pictures, and tell them stories of how wonderful your new place will be, they will not lose the memories that are left behind and they will also appreciate where they are going to. It?s awesome really. Try them out sometime and see how they turn out.
Excellent tips here. It is always such a bear moving with kids. They have short attention spans and often do not react well to moving. My favorite tip from above: “The moving bag.” This is a fantastic idea. It will give your kids access to all things that will make them happy and keep them occupied immediately. You could even put it in a colorful, misshapen box so as to stick out even more when moving. Thanks for this wonderful resource!
These are some great ideas! Moving with kids can be very difficult so we need to pay special attention to how they feel about it. Thanks for the post! 🙂
I like the idea of getting the kids involved with the moving. I like your “Map the Move” idea. As the furniture removalists were helping us our kids were looking at the maps we printed out for them. We let them draw what way we should go. Thanks for sharing!
These will be very helpful when I move in 2 months. We will be traveling across country, so it will be a long journey for the little ones. I like the idea of letting them help and be a part of the move. Seems like allowing them to be involved will help keep the whining to a minimum.
Letting your kids say goodbye to all their friends before you move is a good plan. This allows your kids to have a bit of closure and they will be ‘less’ sad about leaving them. It will be hard on them still, and it will be hard to watch this happen, but finding ways to try and lessen it will be nice.
Giving them little jobs is important. It keeps them busy and the jobs add up so you don’t have to do as much. Put them to work to make your move easier!
This is one of the most informative information I’ve read. It really helps a lot. Thanks for sharing this
Yes, moving is never easy for children. The younger they are, the easier it is for them I think.