Are you moving soon, and do you want to make your kids part of the process? Although a reputable company, such as A2B Moving and Storage, will help you have a smooth transition, you, as a parent should do your best to make the whole event easier for your kids. Every relocation poses specific challenges, but moving with kids is special. You need to take care of the kids’ emotions, as well as their well-being during the whole moving process. Unfortunately, combining being present and dedicated to both can sometimes prove to be very hard. However, if you involve your kids in moving and packing process, you’ll make them less stressed and possibly even excited about the move. There are many ways you can do this.
Tell your kids you’re moving
Step number one to involving your kids in the relocation process is to tell them you’re relocating. Don’t procrastinate telling them about moving. The earlier you tell them, the more time they’ll have to mentally adapt and prepare for the relocation. Make sure to sit them down and explain all the positive sides of the new place and the experiences. Offer your kid to continue the same or similar activities that they loved doing at the place you’re leaving. Knowing that they will be able to return to a similar routine will help kids adapt and warm them up to the idea of a new home and a place. If you can, make sure that they’re not home when the residential movers come. While they might react negatively at first, you have to give them time. Don’t get angry at them for not understanding what’s going on, or that it’s a necessity. Teach them how to guide their emotions and handle them well.
Create a moving checklist together
Making a moving checklist with your kids can be a great way to involve them in the process. So, sit down together and list all the tasks you need to complete before, during, and after the move. This can include packing, cleaning, organizing, and setting up the new home. Let your kids suggest tasks and check them off as you go. This way, they feel included and see progress being made. You can also add fun tasks like deciding where their toys will go in the new house. If you’re using services like DC apartment movers, include them in the checklist to ensure everything is organized. This simple activity can make moving less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone.
To properly involve your kids in moving and packing process, assign age-appropriate moving tasks
Give your kids tasks they can safely do to make them feel involved and helpful during the move. This also keeps them busy and less anxious about the changes.
Here are some task ideas based on age:
- Young children (3-5 years): They can sort toys, pack stuffed animals, or help with simple tasks like handing you tape or markers.
- Elementary school kids (6-10 years): For them, packing their clothes, books, and toys is easy and fun. Also, they will be delighted to help label boxes with stickers or markers.
- Pre-teens (11-13 years): Given their age and maturity, packing more delicate items like school supplies and small electronics is completely appropriate. They can also help with organizing and cleaning different areas.
- Teenagers (14+ years): They can handle packing their rooms, assist with heavier items, and help coordinate smaller tasks. They might also help you plan the moving schedule.
If you’re working with DC long distance movers or a similar company, mention this to your kids so they understand why it’s important to pack and organize their belongings well. Giving kids tasks that match their abilities helps them feel responsible and part of the move.
Let the kids pack their toys
Prepare the cardboard box for your kids and place it in their room. Tell them to pack all of the soft toys that they want to have immediately in a new room. Give them more cardboard boxes if needed, but not too much – the tree should be the most. Show them what kind of toys go in each one, and if some of the toys have to be placed in a plastic bag before they go into the box, do that too and show them. You can also place a type of toy and how it should be packed in front of the box for reference, or draw the “guide” on the boxes. It will be fun for a kid, and it will have something to help resolve the dilemma if it comes up. Make sure that you don’t restrict the kid in the process. You should be there in the kids’ room when the kids are doing it, just to make sure that they are packing items that are safe for them.
Give them boxes to draw on
To involve your kids in moving and packing process, assign them a few cardboard boxes. Allow them to paint on the outside of the boxes. Those can be the boxes in which your kids will pack their toys and clothes, so they’re “labeling” the boxes in their unique ways. They can place the items inside them as well – clothes, blankets, pillows, toys, and everything else that’s safe for them to handle. If they’re not that young, they can also pack their school books and other personal items.
Have your kids pack their moving-day bag
Give a backpack or a small bag to your kids and let them pack their necessities. Tell them what they need to pack and let them personalize the content. If you want, you can make a dinner night with your kids the day before the move. Make a fun dinner night, and bake muffins or make sandwiches for the following days. Let the kids decorate the food themselves if they feel like it. Whenever you can include them in the process, do it. This will help them deal with the fact that they’re moving – of course, this isn’t about the items they’ll pack the night before the move. This is about the whole moving and relocation process that they’re going through.
Plan a goodbye party
Hosting a goodbye party can help your kids feel better about moving. It gives them a chance to say farewell to friends and make lasting memories. Involve your children in planning the party to make it more fun and personal.
So, to involve your kids in moving and packing process, plan a goodbye party together with them by doing the following:
- Choose a date: Pick a day that works best for everyone, preferably a week or two before the move.
- Make invitations: Create fun invitations with your kids. They can draw or use online tools to design them.
- Plan activities: Include games, crafts, or a movie that your kids and their friends enjoy.
- Prepare snacks: Let your kids help make or choose the snacks and drinks for the party.
- Create a memory book: Have guests write messages or draw pictures for your kids to remember them by.
Also, make sure you coordinate this party with the date of the arrival of the furniture movers in Washington DC, or any other city you’re in. It’s simply easier to hold a party when the furniture is still there than in an empty house. This celebration can help your kids and your family have a sort of closure and start a new life chapter afresh.
Visit the new neighborhood before the move
Visiting your new neighborhood before the move can help your kids feel more comfortable and excited about the change. It gives them a chance to explore their new surroundings and see what their new life will be like. Walk around the neighborhood and visit local parks, playgrounds, and other places where your kids might spend time. Show them their new school, and if possible, meet some of the neighbors. This familiarity can ease their anxiety about the move.
Additionally, you should talk about the fun activities they can do and the new friends they can make. Make it an adventure by finding nearby ice cream shops or favorite restaurants. This visit can turn their worries into excitement. For example, if you hire movers in DC because you’re moving to the nation’s capital, you can focus on spending quality time with your kids exploring this amazing city and making your kids fall in love with it. In essence, making this trip helps your children look forward to their new home and feel positive about the upcoming move.
Organize a moving day scavenger hunt
A moving day scavenger hunt can make the moving process fun and engaging for your kids. As you pack and move boxes, hide small items or clues around the house and yard. Give your kids a list of things to find or tasks to complete. This keeps them occupied and turns the moving day into an exciting game. You can include items like favorite toys, treats, or simple tasks like finding the next clue in a specific room.
This activity helps distract your children from the stress of moving and gives them something positive to focus on. It also encourages them to explore their new environment once they arrive. Additionally, if you mention to your kids that the professional movers are taking care of the heavy lifting, they can focus on their scavenger hunt and have a memorable experience. This way, the day feels less like a chore and more like an adventure, making the transition smoother for everyone.
Let the kids make their room
Whether you hire local movers or long-distance movers, the items that the kids will be able to pack won’t be the ones that can easily break or get damaged. That’s also why you can let them take the items out of the boxes and place them anywhere in the room they like, even if only for the first few days. Opt to make the transition as least stressful as possible. The room arrangement can always be changed, but the way that the kids perceive the transition emotionally can’t. Let them make the bed, place their toys and favorite items around the room, or even let them sleep with you for two or three days. This will make them feel comfortable and loved, but it shouldn’t last a long time.
What else can you do to involve your kids in moving and packing process?
Let’s take a look at some more actions that you can take to involve your kids in moving and packing process:
- Let them pack the soft items around the house – the linen, blankets, clothes, and similar items that they can be left alone with
- If they’re big enough, have them help you with any packing task that is suitable for their age
- During the process of moving out and moving in, you can let them do simple deeds like cleaning the floor or placing the cardboard sheets
All in all, everything they’re doing should be appropriate for their age, as well as safe.
Don’t underestimate the value of hiring the right movers
As you are well aware by now, the right movers can make or break your whole moving process. When you find the movers that are the right fit, you can easily devote yourself to the tasks that aren’t moving-related. You’ll have peace of mind, and be sure that the items will be handled properly and with great care. The time you’ll have for kids will be spent well because your mind won’t be elsewhere. Moreover, quality movers will transfer your items safely to the new location.
Involve your kids in moving and packing process and make them less stressed out about it
You can easily turn a stressful time into an opportunity for bonding and fun when you involve your kids in moving and packing process. By engaging them in age-appropriate tasks, planning enjoyable activities, and helping them explore their new environment, you make the move smoother for everyone. Also, it’s important to consider their feelings and make the experience positive. When you approach moving as a family adventure, it helps your kids feel more comfortable and excited about the change. With a little creativity and planning, you can make this transition an enjoyable journey for your whole family.
