Moving is a big endeavor for anyone, even if they live alone. Throw a family into the mix—especially young children—and moving hits a whole new level of difficulty. Not only do you have to work out how to work around the kids during the actual move, but you’ll also have your kids’ emotions to deal with.
Here are some tips for making moving easier when you have children in your family.
Plan and prep
Get as organized as you can, before you even start the actual work. Create a timeline, draft a packing schedule, find a storage unit, and purchase boxes, packing paper, and tape. The more prep work you can do ahead of time, the less frenzied you will be when it actually comes time to move.
Pack the kids’ stuff while they’re away
It can be stressful to kids to see their belongings (especially those precious toys!) get packed away in a box. Young children might not understand that they will see those things again once you get to the new home. To avoid this, pack the majority of your childrens’ belongings when they are away from home, or after they’re asleep. Chances are, they won’t even notice they’re gone. Make sure you leave out their most favorite things, though!
Talk them through it
Talk to your kids about your new house. Try to get them excited for it. Talk about what their new room will look like, where their toys are going to go, and what’s going to be in the backyard. If your new home is close by, drive around the neighborhood; find the nearest park or visit the grounds of their new school. Anything you can do to get them excited about the transition, while taking away some of the nerves, will be helpful.
Involve them (in small ways)
Let them decorate the outside of the box that has their clothes in it. If they’re old enough, you could even let them pack a box with books, blankets, or other unbreakables. Letting them be involved will make the process less mysterious and help them feel a little more comfortable with the whole thing.
Go easy on yourself
It’s okay to eat off paper plates for a week because your dishes are packed. It’s okay to not make dinner for a few days because it’s easier to eat out. It’s okay to spend a little money on a storage unit for convenience and peace of mind. Think about what would make the move easier, and just go for it. Staying sane is what’s most important!
Get a babysitter
Let’s face it—watching everything in your house be loaded onto a moving truck could be borderline traumatic for some children. Rather than put them through that, get them out of the house on the day of your big move. Take them to a relative or close friend who lives nearby. This will keep them out of the way of your movers, and will ultimately be easier (emotionally) for the kids as well.
Be there for them
Above all, remember that the transition to your new home might be very exciting for you, but difficult on your kids. Encourage them to talk to you about how they’re feeling, and do your best to be supportive and positive about this new adventure your family is taking together.
If you’re looking for a storage unit in the the Phoenix area to help out with your family’s move, look no further than Cactus Self Storage in Glendale, AZ. In addition to our Glendale location, We have multiple Arizona Storage Centers locations around the Valley so that you’ll be sure to find one that is convenient for you. Contact us today at 480-386-6022 to get your move off on the right foot!
