Tips & Tricks for Relocating with Kids
29th March, 2018
Relocating with kids can be tricky. Parents know that tackling chores with the kids in tow is difficult. But, with the right tools at your disposal, you can survive moving house, even with your children ‘helping’. Kent Removals & Storage has been helping move families for over 75 years, so we have a few tricks up our sleeve to keep the kids happy while you set about moving your family into your new home.
Step 1: Maintain Routine as Much as Possible
Step 2: Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Step 3: Give Your Kids Something to Get Excited About
Step 4: Try to Remain Calm
Step 5: Liberal Parenting is the Order of the Day
Step 6: Give Them a Few Small Jobs
Step 7: Declutter Their Things
Step 8: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Step 1: Maintain Routine as Much as Possible
Kids tend to be painted as little creatures of chaos. While this is true to an extent, they are also creatures of habit, and can be incredibly resistant to change. Obviously, relocating is a massive change, so you need to minimise disruption in all other areas of their life as much as possible.
If you can plan the move so that they still get to go attend school, as well as all their regular activities (like ballet and swimming lessons, and soccer and cricket practise), you’ll likely have a far more compliant child come moving day.
Step 2: Give Yourself Plenty of Time
How long did your last move without children take? Well, for every one of your young children, you need to double the amount of time you devoted to packing and preparing for your last move. The biggest mistake parents make when relocating with kids is not giving themselves enough time.
Think about how much stuff your kids have – toys, clothes, books and more toys. Then, think about how much assistance they provide. The answers don’t quite add up, do they?! So, give yourself plenty of time to avoid any unnecessary stress.
Step 3: Give Your Kids Something to Get Excited About
You’re probably excited about setting up your new home, starting a new job or exploring a new area, but what do your kids have to look forward to? They’re leaving friends, favourite play areas and a whole lot of memories. You can’t blame them for a being a little resistant.
To get your kids excited, take them to the new area you’re moving to. Show them their new school, an awesome new playground—all the exciting new experiences they’ll be able to enjoy. This process of acclimatisation is crucial if you’re moving with children interstate or overseas.
Step 4: Try to Remain Stay Calm
The worst thing you can do is show any signs of stress or panic. Kids are sponges. They’re always looking to you for cues on how they should behave. If you seem stressed or panicked about the move, they’re likely to pick up on this. They may then start acting out or becoming stressed themselves.
Moving is stressful, and there’ll be plenty of times where you feel like screaming or falling in a heap. The best cure for this is to have a ‘To-Do List.’ A ‘To-Do List’ will keep you calm because whenever panic sets in, you can just return to your list and keep ticking off the jobs. You might even want to download and print our Ultimate Moving House Checklist.
Step 5: Liberal Parenting is the Order of the Day
No matter what type of parent you are, when it comes to moving day, you need to be a little more liberal than usual. If your move goes according to plan without any disasters, that’s a win. Don’t worry if the kids spend the whole day eating lollies or having too much ‘screen time’.
The most important thing is to keep the kids on side, so indulge them a little bit. As long as they are safe and not getting in the way of the move, then let them run free. You can make up for the liberal parenting the day after.
Step 6: Give Your Kids a Few Small Jobs
Teachers will tell you that kids love responsibility. It makes them feel valued—it makes them feel grown-up. If your kids are starting to make the relocation difficult, give them a few small jobs. You’ll be amazed by how well they respond.
When giving your children jobs, just make sure they are age-appropriate. It seems like an obvious point, but don’t get them to pack your favourite wine glasses or anything fragile. Great jobs for kids include:
- Packing cutlery
- Sorting through books
- Unpacking the fridge.
Step 7: Declutter Their Things
There’s no room at your new home for clutter and children are notorious clutter collectors. Their rooms will be full of clothes that don’t fit and toys they don’t play with anymore. Relocating is the perfect time to get rid of all these excess items, and set your kids up with an uncluttered new room. But, there’s usually one problem…
As you’re trying to get rid of things, your kids will protest. Even if it’s a toy they haven’t picked up in years or a jumper that hasn’t fitted them since they were four, they’ll throw a tantrum if you look like you’re about to throw it away. So, try to declutter when they’re not watching. Wait until they’re at school, kinder or asleep. They’ll never miss anything, and the process will be a lot quicker without the constant protests.
Read our guide on How to Declutter Before Moving House Checklist for more information.
Step 8: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
If anyone you trust offers to look after the kids, take it up. Yes, moving is a family experience, but it’s also a lot easier if you can focus your full attention to the task at hand.
Moving with kids is possible, but even if you can get a babysitter for half the day, it will be a more enjoyable experience for you and your kids. How much more fun is it to hang out with Grandma than to watch mum and dad cart boxes all day?
