5 Tips to Make Moving With Kids Easier on Everyone

Moving from one house to another is never an easy task, and adding children into the mix can make the move even more stressful. However, just because you have littles around doesn’t mean that you have to let them add more stress to the situation. In fact, moving with kids doesn’t have to be hard at all as long as you follow these tips.

1. Have a “necessities” bag.

One of the hardest parts of moving for children is that all of their belongings get packed away and they feel like they’re missing something. Instead of forcing your child to play with only one toy during the move, it’s important to have a necessities bag that has a variety of toys and games for your child to play with. This way, your child will have options and won’t feel like he or she is playing with the same toy over and over and over again. Depending on where you’re moving, though, you could also put some of your child’s stuff in a storage facility so you can easily access items you may need. According to Livible, a bay area storage facility, “Today’s storage facilities are easier to access and come with temperature control, so even your most prized possessions will be safe and preserved.”

2. Get them out of the house.

If your child seems to be getting in the way of you packing or moving boxes, send them outside. There is so much for a child to do outside, whether alone or with friends, so let them explore the outdoors while you’re getting your old house packed or new house unpacked. If you can’t convince your child to go outside, use these outdoor tips to entice your child to get some sun and fresh air. Anything from sports games to caring for a garden are easy ways to make your child get out of the way when it comes to moving from one house to the next.

3. Let them help.

Sometimes children can feel like they’re in the way because they want to be a part of the move. If this is the case, let your child help. Obviously, you’ll need to find age-appropriate tasks for your child to handle, but they can easily become a part of the move with some of the following ideas:

• Responsible for putting boxes together with moving tape
• Responsible for labeling boxes once you’re done filling them
• Responsible for moving boxes that aren’t too heavy
• Responsible for actually putting items into moving boxes (most likely their own stuff)
• Responsible for keeping pets out of the way while you’re packing

If you can find ways to make your child feel like he or she is part of the move, it can make the move less stressful for everyone involved.

4. Load ‘em up.

If you need your child to stay pre-occupied during the moving process, it’s a good idea to load them up with new toys or games that will keep them out of your hair for a bit. If your child is into video games, then giving them a new portable video game or downloading a new app could keep them from getting in the way. If your child is too little, then maybe you’ll want to stock up on some activity books that have a variety of puzzles, etc. for your child to play. Children area easily excited by new things, and loading them up with some fun new activities and games is an easy way to make moving less stressful for everyone.

5. Ask friends and family to help.

Sometimes the best way to make moving with children less stressful is to get them out of the way. If you have friends or family members in the area, why not ask them to watch your children while you tackle the move? Sometimes a nice trip to their grandparents’ house or a fun night or two away with a friend will be exciting for your child and make it easier for you to get boxes moved, sit through a closing, or even get a little bit of your belongings unpacked. Be sure to talk with your child about what they’ll be doing if they are going to have an extended mini vacation.

Moving with children doesn’t have to be extremely stressful. Instead, if you follow the tips above, you’ll find that the moving process isn’t any more difficult when you have children around.