Let’s be honest. Moving is not an easy task no matter what stage of life you are in. Add in kids, and it becomes a whole other amount of fun and chaos. I have written on this topic a number of times. Now as a mom of two and having gone through two moves with kids AND working for a moving company, I have a pretty good grasp on the importance of preparing kids for a move. I have moved down the street, and I have moved across the country with a two-month-old.
Whether your child is school age or just a few months old, it is important to understand that moving into a new home affects them in different ways. A new home, new room, and new neighborhood can turn their lives upside down. Following a few simple steps can make your little one’s transition easier and your life a little less chaotic as well.
Start early and get them involved in the action!
When you have kids in the house, it is never too early to start packing boxes. Trust me, things will come out of the woodwork when you start to organize and pack. I am still finding unpacked boxes from my pre-baby home. Even if you only have time to pack one cabinet or one box, take advantage of that time. Moving day comes fast, and you will soon find yourself scrambling to get things in boxes. You could end up with a bunch of boxes full of random unorganized stuff! Take advantage of nap time, quiet time, any chance you get to get ahead of the game.
If you kids are old enough to participate, get them involved in the packing actions. Let them pack up their toys, stuffed animals, clothes, anything that is not breakable. My two-year-old son loves to put things in boxes, granted I would not trust him to pack my kitchen, but he can actually be great help when it comes to his toys. This can also be a great segway into talking about why you are packing up boxes and what you plan to do with your stuff.
Talk about the move with your kids.
Bring your kids into the conversation of the move, preferably early if possible. The more they are aware of these changes, the more likely they are to understand the transition. If your children enjoy reading, look into books about moving. Even if your toddler isn’t talking yet, it is amazing how much they pick up from reading and talking about a topic.
If you are moving close by, go on a field trip to see your new house and walk around your new neighborhood. This is a great time to talk about the fun activities that your kids can do in the yard or neighborhood. If you see other families out and about, introduce yourself! There is nothing better than having awesome neighbors, especially if they have kids too!
Ask and accept help
Moving is not the time to be prideful. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or accept it if others offer. It takes a village to move a home. When we moved from Tennessee to Minnesota, our son was 2 months old. It blew me away at how many friends showed up to help us move out of our home. Whether it is helping pack or move furniture, hold a baby, or clean, the help is a 100% game changer. You can also hire movers to take stress off your day!
Set up their rooms first
My last piece of advice is to set up your kiddos’ rooms first. It is important for them to have a sense of normalcy and a safe space in the new home. For an even better transition, get the kids involved in the room set up. Let them help pick the room color if you are painting. Have them help bring their items into the room. Spend a lot of time in their room. We recently moved our son into a new room in our house. By spending time in the room playing, reading, and setting up, he was ready and comfortable spending his first night in there. A safe space is one of the best things you can give a child transitioning to a new home.
Moving with kids can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The key to moving is preparation. Book TWO MEN AND A TRUCK early to knock that off your list. Make your move day fun and exciting. This is a time to make memories with your family in your new home!
Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is the largest franchised moving company in North America. Currently, there are more than 380 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 46 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Locally, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has been serving the Twin Cities metro for over 20 years. With 8 locations across the metro, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Twin Cities is now one of the largest franchises in the system, specializing in full-service moving, storage, and junk removal. For more information on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, visit twomentwincities.com.
