Essential Steps For Navigating A Smooth House Move With Kids
Moving house can be stressful enough without worrying about disrupting your child’s routines or trying to negotiate packing while rushing around after energetic toddlers or teens with hectic schedules.
It’s not easy to navigate a smooth move with kids, but there are ways to minimize stress and get organized. In this guide, we’ll outline some essential steps for your next move.
Give yourself time
Unless you decide to relocate spontaneously, it’s likely you’ll have a few weeks or months to prepare for the move. Give yourself as much time as possible to get sorted to avoid last-minute panic and combat stress.
Start packing as early as you can and create a list of everything you need to do before leaving your current home.
Work through your list and update it every time you complete a task or think of a new one. Being methodical can help you reduce stress and ensure everything is done before the big day.
Organize childcare
Older kids and teens may be able to help out and get involved in packing and unpacking, but if you have young children or a baby, it’s a great idea to organize childcare when you’re trying to box up all your possessions and move from one house to another.
Speak to friends and family members and see if they’re available to help, or contact your child’s daycare facility to ask about extra hours. You could also look for reputable babysitting services in the local area.
It’s also helpful to arrange cover if you have pets. Moving can be stressful for animals as well as humans.
Going to a relative’s house or a facility such as a doggy daycare or kennel for a couple of days can help to avoid unnecessary stress for your furry friend.
Execute a clear-out
It’s very common to accumulate stuff in your home, especially if you’ve lived there for a long time. Moving is a brilliant excuse to have a clear-out and get rid of anything you don’t want to take to your new home.
Create a plan. Move through your home, going through drawers, closets, storage cabinets, boxes, and chests, and set aside anything you want to sell, donate, or chuck.
Create a pile of items you want to keep but won’t need before the move. You can pack these possessions as soon as you have boxes and labels.
Stock up on packing supplies
Almost 40% of Americans consider moving house more stressful than breaking up with a partner. For most people, packing is the part they dread most.
Putting an entire house full of items into boxes and crates is a daunting prospect, but following some simple golden rules can alleviate stress and save time.
One of the first tasks to complete is to stock up on packing supplies, including boxes, strong tape, labels, and markers. Make sure you have everything you need before you start packing.
Label all your boxes
Labeling is the key to swift, seamless unpacking when you reach your destination. Use your labels to describe what’s in the box and where it’s going in your new home.
If you’ve got a container full of pots and pans, for example, you can ensure it goes straight into the kitchen, ready to be unpacked into a unit or rack.
Take extra care when labeling items that need specialist attention, for example, fragile items or things that need to stay upright.
Hire professional cleaners
Using professional cleaning services like those provided by Sparkly Maid is a brilliant way to save time and effort when you have a busy schedule and multiple balls to juggle.
Hiring a cleaning service can help you ensure the house you’re leaving is spotless and your new home is clean, fresh, and tidy for your arrival.
If you’ve been renting, it’s particularly beneficial to enlist professional help to avoid penalties and deductions.
Find an excellent removal firm
It is possible to move house without using a removal firm, but it can be a huge operation.
If you have a lot of stuff, your diary is packed, you don’t have much spare time, and you’ve got children or pets to think about, it’s wise to think about hiring a removal firm.
Using removal services offers several benefits, including lowering the risk of injuries and accidents, taking advantage of expertise and experience, gaining access to specialist vehicles and equipment, and saving time and energy.
Research companies before you decide who to hire. Look for highly rated, reputable firms with excellent reviews. It’s a great idea to ask colleagues, neighbors, and friends for recommendations and compare quotes.
Make your new home child-friendly and inviting
Moving can be an upheaval for kids, especially if they loved the old house or you’ve relocated to a new area.
You can help them settle and feel more comfortable in their new environment by making the new home child-friendly and welcoming.
Spend a bit of time before you move on to adding personal touches and creating a homely atmosphere. If you have the chance, you could also redecorate their rooms before your moving date.
It’s helpful to get older kids involved in fun activities like designing their new bedroom, den, or playroom to help them navigate the moving process and put down roots.
Try to stick to routines as much as possible
Many children respond positively to having a set routine. Changing routines can be disruptive and disorientating. When you move, try to stick to your child’s normal routines as much as possible.
It’s particularly beneficial to maintain the same evening and bedtime routines to help them sleep and ensure they get enough rest.
Let other people help
Parents are notorious for their multi-tasking skills, but even the most organized and agile mom or dad can struggle when it comes to negotiating a house move.
If you’re short on time, you’ve got loads to do, or you want to minimize disruption for your kids as much as possible, ask for help.
Accept offers and favors, and let your friends and family muck in and lighten the load.
Small things like doing the school run, looking after the kids while you unpack, stocking up on essential groceries, or cooking a nice meal on the first night can make a big difference.
Moving can be stressful enough without having to think about keeping children happy and safe. If you’re relocating with your family, it’s important to be proactive in minimizing hassle and lightening the load.
There are many ways to reduce stress levels, including giving yourself plenty of time, asking for help, hiring professional cleaning and removal services, and arranging childcare.
It’s also beneficial to declutter, make sure you have all the supplies you need before you pack, and make your new home as welcoming as possible for your kids.
