Moving With Kids

This post is going to help you, whether you’re moving with kids or without!

Moving is hard. Moving with kids can be even harder! In this post I’m going to touch on a few things that will help you in the preparation stages but I’m also going to focus on what you can do on Moving Day and how to Settle In.

Whether you’re moving house, changing suburbs or Cities or moving across the world it is stressful. Even without kids, it’s a juggle of leaving one place, packing that life and chapter up and preparing properly for the next. Mentally, you’re in two places at once.

Add kids and it’s like juggling while standing on a rolling ball. You’re trying to see the big picture, while your hands are as busy as your brain and there are little ones undoing everything you’re trying to do!

Moving is not an easy task!

We have just a little experience of this. We’ve packed up house and moved between 4 times in as many years. 4 houses within the space of 18 months actually.

As most of you know my husband and I moved to Sydney from South Africa 4 years ago with two small children. Thereafter we stayed in two houses before finally settling where we have been for the last couple of years.

Now I am no expert however, these moves did teach me some valuable lessons about moving with kids, overseas moves and even just local moves.

Moving with kids or without is stressful. Here are more than 8 tips you help you get through the move so you can enjoy the next exciting new chapter.

 Moving with Kids

Whether you’re moving across a City or moving across the world there are some fundamental difficulties in moving. And that’s not even moving with kids. Moving sans kids still means having to pack up, say goodbye to some things, aspects of that home you loved. You still may have to find new shops, new local spots to love and of course a dentist and doctor.

Moving with kids means having to process all those things but also make sure the kids are transitioning okay and not undoing all the work you’re trying to do.

I remember during one of our moves every time I packed something one of the children would unpack it. I couldn’t get through a whole box without packing it twice or thrice

On another move, my daughter wouldn’t let go of my leg. I couldn’t move anywhere without a little thing coming with.

I’m hoping some of my frustrations and difficulties and the solutions I found for them will help you in your move with kids.

Prior to Moving

1. Explaining the move to your children

If you’re moving with kids, this is MOST important thing to do, of all the things on this list.

Moving houses can be daunting for children. Whether it is a new suburb, a new city or a new country. This new place is foreign and if not dealt with correctly can become quite scary and stressful for little ones.

They don’t understand that everything is going with them. In their limited understanding they think that they’re going to have to leave all their things behind, their toys and books and even their pets. Poor little things!

I think the kids can’t understand the difference between their home and the building. They see them as one and the same.

They just can’t get their head around leaving the building and not everything in it.

Include your children in the early discussions of moving to make it a normal topic. You want to create an exciting theme around this move, this is a good and exciting thing! These days we are so lucky to have such easy access to people we move from thanks to the wonders of the internet. Make sure you explain to your children that they will still be able to talk to their friends.

3. Choose the right date

For an international move you need to check that your kids have child care on the day your movers are packing your house. Let your kids

For a local move, try move on a day when you can get child care for the kids. Moving with kids is always easier if they’re not getting in the way of all the movers.

Moving with kids or without is stressful. Here are more than 8 tips you help you get through the move so you can enjoy the next exciting new chapter.
My son hanging on to his bike when we immigrated. Poor child thought he had to leave it behind.

2. Check yourself

Having children, especially young children sometimes means that a good night’s sleep is a foreign concept. This leads to baby brain (if this concept to you if foreign, it’s the fun times where your brain turns to mush due to exhaustion).

To combat this in life and especially during a move start with making checklists.

Keep a ‘moving list’ handy to write down everything you need to do and remember.

Start this well in advance, even when you are in the early planning stages as having a checklist when it is crunch time is so beneficial because you don’t have to think. It is just all there for you!

3. Start Early

As soon as you confirm your move, start packing up the things you don’t need.

Take every opportunity of the children being distracted or asleep to pack up one box. Even if you’re doing one box a day you’re still making headway.

4. Label, label, label

You may remember what’s in each box when you pack it, you may even remember the next day but by the time you get to the other side and ignore the boxes for a while you would have completely forgotten what’s it them.

I still have boxes from South Africa and I have zero clue what’s in them!

Moving with kids or without is stressful. Here are more than 8 tips you help you get through the move so you can enjoy the next exciting new chapter.
Moving with kids: label, label, label. You will not remember what went into each one.

5. Leave the kids until they last

The kids are going to be unsettled by a move, even after you’ve had the chat with them. You need to leave their rooms as they are for as long as possible. It doesn’t mean you can’t remove some of the lesser items, half the toys or half the books. But don’t take it all.

It goes without saying but leave their precious items!

6. Make the kids part of the process

I think what may really be helpful is once you have boxes being packed, to put a box in their room and leave it in their room with a few toys and books in. That way they can keep unpacking and packing that box to their hearts content. It will also go a long way to make them feel part of the process.

7. Accept help!!

If you’re like me you really struggle letting go of everything, you like to be on top of everything. But moving is a different story. If someone offers to help, get them to take the kids out and away. Not having them around will make the packing a whole lot easier.

What to do on Moving Day

It is here, the big day. Yes, you’re going to panic and it’s going to be chaotic but if you’ve followed the steps above, its going to be a whole lot easier than it could have been.

Regardless, there are some things you can do on moving day to make things better.

Moving with kids locally

Secure the Kids

If you’re moving locally you need to make sure you that there is someone too help look after the kids. Best case is having them out of the house completely, worst case is having one parent who is dedicated to looking after the kids.

You only need to move with kids once to learn this lesson the hard way.

Kids, especially little kids get in the way, they try hold onto things, hold on to you and try get in the way of the boxes being moved.

Get Help!

Moving is not just emotionally hard, it’s also physically draining. Especially the loading up of the truck and then the unpacking. And that’s just boxes. Imagine beds and tables, chairs and TVs.

You need movers!! We once moved locally without movers, worst decision ever! That is how things break.

Hire a Mover has a friendly yet professional team that can help with moves. Their removalists and packers are here to help ease the stress so you can enjoy some family time. This is not the time to be miss independent, these professionals know exactly what they are doing and how to get the job done fast and effectively.

Moving with kids or without is stressful. Here are more than 8 tips you help you get through the move so you can enjoy the next exciting new chapter.
Moving with kids: don’t do it yourself! We once tried and it wasn’t very successful.

Moving with kids internationally

If you’re making the long trip overseas, you’re probably stepping on the plane with a million thoughts are going through your head, did I remember this? Did I forget that? – see… get those lists sorted!

Unfortunately, moving overseas normally entails a few “moving days” there is the day when you pack up home, transit and then there is unpacking day.

These days can potentially be the most stressful days, isn’t that sad. It shouldn’t be. This should be an exciting time full of fun and new adventures that you can enjoy with your family.

I’ve talked about transit and travelling with kids before so we’re focusing on the leaving, packing day and then the arriving day.

Packing up – Keep the kids busy

Follow the steps above, choose a good day and make sure the kids are out for the most part. Let them be involved for the beginning or the end but definitely not the entire time!!

On the Other Side

Most people immigrate not knowing anyone at their destination. Alone, without support or help. They don’t have a family and friends network that will roll up their sleeves and help you when you need it.

And sadly, this is where I think asking for help is essential. You need someone who can get stuck in and focus on the job at hand. People who aren’t exhausted or thinking about all the emotional scenes they’ve just been through.

Hire a Mover has a friendly yet professional team that can help with moves. Their removalists and packers are here to help ease the stress so you can enjoy some family time. This is not the time to be miss independent, these professionals know exactly what they are doing and how to get the job done fast and effectively. Plus, it is nice to have some friendly faces in a foreign new place.

Moving with kids: make sure you have decent movers on the day you unpack on the other side. These people will be spending all day with you and handling your most precious possessions. We had the opposite of decent movers when we immigrated and it was awful.
Moving with kids: make sure you have decent movers on the day you unpack on the other side. These people will be spending all day with you and handling your most precious possessions. We had the opposite of decent movers when we immigrated and it was awful.

Unpacking and Settling in

Settling in and unpacking can often get a bad reputation. Yes, it can be tedious, but it can also be exciting and refreshing setting up a new house.

1. A bit of tape goes a long way

One of the best things I’ve ever done was visit the house we were moving to and measure out where the beds, couches and big pieces of furniture would go. I then put tape down where that item would go so that I could visualise the space.

2. Label cupboards

If you’re visiting the house you need to also check out the cupboards and where you want things to go. With post-it notes on hand you can then put a note on each cupboard where you want things to go.

3. Let the kids help

You want the kids to be part of the moving. They’ll be more accepting of the move when they get to be part of it. Have a box that they can unpack into their bedrooms or even just let them have the box of kitchen plastics.

Depending on your children and their personalities you can turn it into a game e.g. who unpacks the fastest.

Moving with kids or without is stressful. Here are more than 8 tips you help you get through the move so you can enjoy the next exciting new chapter.
Moving with kids, let them have a little box that they can help unpack.

4. Real Help

Hire A Packer has a great service with professionals that can aid in this area. As I mentioned, when you are moving to a place that doesn’t have friends and family it is nice getting help from professionals especially for the hard things.

When you have professionals helping with the hard stuff you can go back to focussing on this exciting new time and make unpacking fun with children.

This post is in collaboration with Professional Removalist Company – Hire A Mover & Influencer Management Service – #AsSeenOn.