At Moving APT, our mission is to provide you with practical strategies, expert advice, and valuable insights to ensure a smooth transition for you and your family.
From getting your kids involved in the move to maintaining your old routines, we’ll walk you through how you can prepare for moving day and finally get your family settled in your new home.
Read on and see how you can make moving your family stress-free, and all the good kinds of memorable.
1. Preparing for the Move
1. Timing the Move Strategically
Timing is essential. Choosing the right time of the year can help minimize disruptions in your children’s lives, such as school schedules and extracurricular activities.
While moving during the summer months may be a little more expensive, it’s worth the price to avoid any scheduling conflicts.
2. Choosing the Right Neighborhood for Your Family
Finding the perfect neighborhood is vital for a successful move. After all, your family won’t be too thrilled to move someplace nobody likes. Consider key factors such as proximity to schools, safety, and amenities when selecting a neighborhood. The right neighborhood will make the transition easier for everyone, especially your kids.
3. Involving Kids in the Decision-Making Process
Getting your kids involved in the decision-making process is a great way to remind them you care. Include them in discussions about their preferences for the new home, neighborhood, and school.
That sense of control can really ease their anxiety – and seeing their choices in action will make the whole move way more exciting for them.
2. Communicating with Your Kids
1. Discuss the Move and Address Concerns
Open and honest communication is the key to just about anything, especially moving with kids. It’s important to know how to initiate conversations about the move, listen to your kids’ feelings, and provide reassurance. It’s also important to explain the reasons behind the move, and to address any concerns your kids may have.
2. Keep Conversations and Explanations Age-Appropriate
Let’s face it, it’s hard to win with teenagers. But it gets easier if you keep your approach age-appropriate. Kids are kids, and teens are… perpetually-annoyed, semi-adults. Take a page from show business and know your target audience.
3. Encourage Open Dialogue
You don’t need to smother your kids with questions about the move, but you don’t want to keep them out of the loop, either. It’s a balancing act, but your goal should be to maintain open lines of communication before, during, and after the move. Actively listen and validate their emotions, and you can provide plenty of support.
3. Organizing and Sorting Belongings
1. Declutter Before your Move
Moving presents an excellent opportunity to declutter and streamline your belongings. By minimizing the number of items to be moved, you can reduce stress and get a fresh start in your new home.
Your kids may be loathed to get rid of some of their stuff, but you’d be surprised at how they can change their tune if they have to pack their stuff up themselves.
2. Strategize Packing for Efficiency and Convenience
Efficient packing is easy packing. Create an inventory, label your boxes clearly, and pack your essentials separately – the last thing you want is to go searching through your boxes for the Nintendo Switch when your kids are getting a little too hyper and in the way.
3. Create a System for Labeling and Inventorying Boxes
A well-organized labeling and inventory system can save you time and effort. Make sure each box is labeled with its contents, but don’t forget to include its designated room in the new home. With a clear inventory, you can quickly find important stuff and settle into your new space smoothly.
4. Enlisting Professional Help
1. Hire a Reputable Moving Company
A DIY move is easy when you’re single and in college. Moving a whole family’s worth of stuff? No thanks. Instead, get in touch with a reliable and experienced moving company.
It may cost you a little extra, but it can really cut down on the stress of moving day. Read reviews and compare plenty of estimates to be sure you’re dealing with the good guys.
2. Look into Child-Friendly Moving Services
Some moving companies offer child-friendly services and can cater to the unique needs of families with kids. What makes a mover child- and family-friendly? Specialized packing for toys and belongings, childproofing assistance, and safe transportation options, to name a few examples. Family-friendly movers can give you some much-needed peace of mind, so don’t sleep on their services.
3. Research Insurance Options for Valuables
You’ll want to protect your valuables as much as you can. Some movers specialize in antiques, fragile items, and other big-ticket items like artwork.
Whoever you hire, check out their insurance policies to be on the safe side. This way you’ll be financially protected in the (rare) event of loss or damage.
5. Transitioning Schools and Childcare
1. Research and Visit Potential Schools
Kids spend a ton of time in school, and your schooling options can make or break your move. Research and visit potential schools, and make sure you consider the curriculum, any extracurricular activities, and the school’s overall environment. Take the time to make an informed decision.
2. Navigate the Enrollment Process Smoothly
Enrolling your children in a new school means plenty of paperwork and administrative hoops to jump through. Call ahead and ask about the necessary documents.
This is also your chance to communicate with school administrators. They’ll help you understand the important deadlines and keep the whole process organized.
3. Communicate with Teachers and Caregivers
Establish open lines of communication with your children’s new teachers and caregivers if you really want a successful transition for your kids. Making sure your kids grow up right takes a lot of work.
Don’t be afraid to initiate conversations and share information. Stay involved with their teachers and other caregivers, and you can support your children’s academic and emotional well-being.
6. Creating a New Home
1. Designate Kid-Friendly Spaces
Want to help your kids settle in? Create a welcoming and kid-friendly environment in your new home. This will give them a much-needed break from all the chaos of the moving day.
Get their bedrooms, play areas, and common spaces situated early if you’re really desperate to keep your kids occupied and out of your way. On the other hand, if you’re more hands-on, it can be a fun bonding experience to help your kids set up their room.
2. Unpack Essentials First
When unpacking, it’s crucial to prioritize unpacking essential items that your family needs immediately. Make sure you label the bedding and kitchen essentials, because those are must-haves on day 1.
We also recommend packing some luggage for yourself and the rest of your family. Treat your move like a mini-vacation and live out of those backpacks until everything else is unpacked.
3. Make the New Home Comfortable and Familiar
Adjusting to a new home can be challenging for children, especially the younger ones. Try to set up familiar items, as soon as you can. Incorporate sentimental objects and personalize the environment to really make your kids feel at home as early as possible.
7. Exploring the New Neighborhood
1. Introduce Your Kids to Local Parks and Recreational Areas
Explore the local parks and recreational areas in your new neighborhood. This is a great way to help your children acclimate to their surroundings, and if there are nearby parks, playgrounds, and other outdoor spaces, your kids will have plenty of space to get away from the moving chaos to play and interact with other children.
2. Find Family-Friendly Activities and Attractions
Research family-friendly activities and attractions in your new area so you and the whole family can take a well-deserved breather. Look into local attractions, museums, events, and family-oriented establishments. This isn’t just great for your kids – taking a break from unboxing and moving furniture around is great for your own sanity.
3. Meet Neighbors and Build a Support Network
Connect with neighbors early on. It’s a good idea to introduce yourself sooner rather than later, otherwise your neighbors may start asking themselves questions about why you haven’t come by or said hello.
By creating a network of friendly faces, you can find support, make new friends, and help your children feel more connected to their new neighborhood.
8. Maintaining Routines and Familiarity
1. Establish Consistent Schedules
Maintaining a consistent schedule can provide a sense of stability for your children. Establish routines for meals, bedtime, homework, and other daily activities.
When you’re moving, it’s easy to feel like everything’s up in the air. But by creating a predictable schedule, you can help your whole family feel more grounded and stable.
2. Prioritize Familiar Activities and Rituals
Continue family traditions, and put a little extra emphasis on spending time together during the first few weeks in your new home.
Let your kids engage in familiar hobbies, and don’t forget the activities that they enjoyed before the move. It’s a new place, but those familiar elements can help them focus on putting down roots.
3. Incorporate Old Routines into the New Environment
Transitioning to a new home doesn’t mean completely abandoning old routines. Adapt and incorporate your previous routines into your new environment.
Whether it’s family movie nights, Sunday brunches, or game nights, maintaining these cherished traditions can create a sense of familiarity and normalcy for your children.
9. Addressing Emotional Challenges
1. Help Kids Cope with Homesickness
Homesickness is a common emotional challenge that children may face when moving to a new home. When you’ve just moved into a new place, there’s a window of time in which it may not quite feel like home. Fortunately, you can help ease the transition by creating a comforting space, and fostering connections with the previous home.
2. Manage Anxiety and Stress during the Transition
Moving can be stressful for parents, and kids can definitely pick up on that energy. Don’t forget to breathe. Set time aside to rest and relax during the course of your move, and encourage open communication in case anything is really bugging your kids. This will make the whole move more calm and more positive.
3. Seek Professional Support if Needed
If your child is experiencing significant emotional difficulties related to the move, seeking professional support is always on the table. Sometimes it’s appropriate to consult a therapist or counselor who specializes in child and family issues. By involving professionals, you’re giving your kids a chance to open up to someone about how the move is treating them.
10. Settling into School Life
1. Make Friendships and Social Connections
Your kids need friends. Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, arrange playdates, and help your kids foster their social skills. It’s important to support your children’s social interactions so they can establish their own supportive network in their new school.
2. Support Academic Adjustment and Achievement
School can be tough, especially if you’re the new kid. While nobody wants to be a helicopter parent, you can still take some time to communicate with teachers to make sure your kids are paying attention and learning. Remember to maintain a consistent routine for school and homework.
3. Collaborate with Teachers and Staff
Building a positive relationship with your child’s teachers and school staff is an important part of moving with kids. Communicate with teachers and don’t miss those parent-teacher conferences.
You can also participate in school activities if you’re the extra-social type. By collaborating with the school community, you can ensure that your child receives the support they need to excel academically and emotionally.
11. Involving Kids in Community Activities
1. Encourage Participation in Sports, Clubs, and Organizations
Engaging your children in community activities can help them establish connections and develop new interests. From sports teams to clubs and community events, it’s important to foster a sense of belonging in your new community – for your kids and the whole family.
2. Volunteer and Give Back to the Community
Teaching your children the value of giving back to the community is an important aspect of their social development, and it’ll help them feel like more of a part of their new town.
By instilling a sense of empathy and social responsibility, you can empower kids to make a positive impact in their new community.
3. Foster a Sense of Belonging and Civic Engagement
Encourage your kids to get more involved in the community. If you’re really hoping to help your children plan for the future, it’ll look good on their resume. Otherwise, it’s a good way to get them out of the house and engaging with their new hometown.
12. Staying Connected with Extended Family and Friends
1. Utilize Technology for Virtual Connections
Distance shouldn’t hinder your children’s relationships with extended family and friends. There are plenty of ways your kids can use technology to maintain their connections with old friends and the rest of your folks.
Video calls and online games are great, and so is social media in moderation. Just make sure your kids know how to be responsible with their internet usage.
2. Plan Visits and Reunions
Why not invite some of the family out to see your new place? Physical visits and reunions can really help maintain relationships with your extended family and friends.
It can be a bit challenging scheduling out a date that works for everyone, but you can always just invite one or two people over at a time.
3. Sustain Meaningful Relationships from a Distance
Maintaining long-distance relationships requires effort. It takes work, but with regular communication, thoughtful gestures, and shared experiences, you can make sure you and your kids stay connected with the family and friends from your old place.
13. Celebrating Milestones and Special Events
1. Mark Important Occasions in the New Home
It’s a new home, and that means new beginnings. Now’s your chance to create traditions and celebrate milestones! There are plenty of creative ways (and excuses) to mark special occasions such as birthdays, holidays, and achievements. Memories make the home, so break out the cake and start making some good ones.
2. Creat Traditions Unique to Your New Location
If you move someplace new, it’s important for your kids to recognize and respect their new environment. Embrace the culture and traditions of your new hometown so your kids get a newfound sense of belonging. You don’t need to go overboard, but if you find something the whole family likes it’ll definitely ease the homesickness.
3. Embrace the Positives of Change and Growth
A move means new starts, new experiences, and plenty of personal growth. It’s important to take this opportunity to embrace the positives of change – and it’s equally important to instill this mindset in your children. (If you don’t, they may end up living with you until they’re 40.)
Foster resilience, adaptability, and an open mindset, and you can help your children see the move as an exciting adventure that should be appreciated.
FAQ
How can I make the moving process less stressful for my kids?
Involve your kids in planning decisions, maintain routines, and pack a special “moving day” bag with their favorite items. Don’t forget to take breaks for quality family time and R&R.
What are some age-appropriate ways to involve my children in the moving process?
For younger children, let them pack their belongings and label boxes. For older children, you can include them in decision-making and researching the new neighborhood or school. For teenagers… just stay out of their way and make sure they’re not doing anything stupid.
How can I help my children adjust to a new school and make friends?
For starters, research and visit potential schools together. While you can’t force your kids to socialize, you can definitely encourage participation in extracurricular activities. On your end, you can put maintain communication with teachers and school staff to make sure your kids are doing well.
What should I do if my child experiences homesickness after the move?
Homesickness happens. Create a safe space for expression, and help your kids communicate with old friends. It also helps to establish some familiar routines in your new house to make it feel more like a home.
How can I maintain a sense of familiarity and routine for my kids during the transition?
Stick to established routines for meals, bedtime, and other family rituals. Set up your children’s room with familiar items, and take some time to explore the new neighborhood together. This will get you some fresh air, and it’ll help the whole family find fun places for new routines and activities.
Embracing the Journey of Moving with Kids
Moving with kids can be a challenge, to say the least, Fortunately, with careful planning, effective communication, and a positive mindset, it can become a transformative and rewarding experience for the entire family.
Communicate with your kids, and make sure you know you’re really listening. Take the time to walk them through the moving process, and they’ll let you know if they have any questions or concerns. A move can be a tough process for everyone, but as long as your kids know they aren’t alone, they’ll feel much more at-ease as you’re getting settled in.
If you’re ready to get started, check out some of our guides for the best movers in your area! Don’t forget to check back in with Moving APT for more tips, tricks, and insider info to make moving day even easier!
