Moving with Kids: 5 Tips for an Easy Process

Moving house is stressful. Moving house when you have kids is a nightmare waiting to happen!

We all know that throwing children into the mix can complicate any major life change or stressful situation, but there are always things you can do to manage both your stress and theirs.

Remember that your children will be stressed out by this process, too, and it’s important that you work together as a family to get through it. Here are five easy tips to make the move more doable.

Plan Ahead and Involve the Kids

Getting started early is always going to help alleviate pressure. Pick your moving dates, book a reliable moving company like Alberta Strong Movers, and start planning how you’ll handle the packing process.

Letting your children be a part of the move will not only help relieve some of their apprehension but can also free up some of the tasks on your plate. Depending on how old your kids are, let them help with planning, packing, and decluttering your home.

Create a Moving Day Survival Kit

While the packing process can be tedious, tiring, and stressful, there’s nothing quite as bad as moving day itself. Your kids will probably end up feeling cranky and bored.

Having a survival kit for the day can be super helpful. Pack a bag that you’ll have easy access to, and fill it with all your essentials for when you move in (clothes, coffee, bedding, etc.). You should also have things like snacks and toys to keep your little ones busy during the day.

Keep Kids Entertained

While your kids might want to help out at first (and you can let them if they’re old enough), they will eventually get bored and tired of the whole process.

This is when you’ll need to reach into your survival kit and pull out some toys and games that they can keep themselves entertained with. Alternatively, you could schedule a playdate for the day of the move if you think your kids are going to have a bad time or make a nuisance of themselves.

Stick to a Routine

Moving is a big life upheaval, and it can be tough to stick to your regular routine, especially if it’s a long-distance move. However, for kids, routine is essential, and you’ll need to try your best to keep things as normal as possible for them.

Even if you’re up late packing and unpacking or struggling to find time to cook a healthy meal, try to prioritize taking care of your little ones. Stick to their usual bedtime, pay attention to their homework, and try to make sure they’re eating nutritious meals.

Make Unpacking Fun

Once the moving part is over (breathe a sigh of relief), the unpacking begins. This part of the process is still stressful and time-consuming, but you can make it a lot more fun.

Once again, let the kids get involved by unpacking their own rooms if they can or setting up a rewards system for completing tasks. You can have them unpack boxes or help you look for mysteriously missing belongings in exchange for a snack.