Nobody knows your children better than you do. However, at Al’s Moving we have been in the business long enough to know that moving with kids can be a challenge. Let’s face it, no one likes last major changes, especially ones that disrupt daily life. This is especially true for children. When moving with kids it is important to help them cope with the stress of moving. Here are some steps you should take before moving day.
Moving with Kids: Hire Kid Friendly Movers Westchester
We had to put this first because we know better than anyone, moving is stressful!
We don’t have to tell you how much you have on your plate as a parent as is.
Save yourself the headache of dealing with sketchy moving companies and put your items and sanity in the hands of a reputable moving company in Westchester County. At Al’s Moving, we are licensed and insured and have been in business since 1948. What’s more, we are a kid friendly moving company. Many of our employees have kids of there own!
Give Your Kids Enough Notice
Here’s a tip for moving with kids: tell them ahead of time that the family’s moving.
Once you know that you’re moving, sit down with the kids and tell them. This will help them process and prepare for the future.
As your children learn when and where the family is moving, they’re bound to have questions. Even if some of them seem silly, listen intently and answer all of them to the best of your abilities.
For local moves in Westchester, remind them that they can still see their old friends and visit their favorite parks.
If you’re moving out of state, be honest with the kids and tell them if you plan to visit. Thankfully, teenagers can still keep up with and interact with their friends via social media. Your honesty, though perhaps difficult to hear at first, will aid in their preparation.
Focus on the positives
It’s easy to look at all the aspects of life that moving takes away. Kids will miss their neighborhood friends, extended family members, and school. These are all familiar to them, and the unknown is frightening. However, you can make moving with children a beneficial growing experience when you focus on the positives.
Instead of dwelling on what they’ll miss out on, tell them about all the good that will come from it!
For example, tell them if their new house will be bigger, they get their own bedroom, or they’ll be closer to other family members. It may also help to find books about moving for kids and tell them your own experiences. It’ll make the process clearer and less foreign to them, which means they likely won’t be as scared.
Take a trip to your new community
If you can, take the kids to the family’s new home and community. Let them see the house, nearby parks, and the school they’ll attend. Point out all the aspects that they’ll like and remind them of all the good that will come from moving.
If you can’t visit the area, use the internet to your advantage! Show your kids the pictures on the house listing so they know what their new home will look like. Show them pictures of parks, sports centers, museums, and other places in the new town so they see how much fun it will be. Don’t forget to let them see what the school looks like too!
Providing a visual is a great way to dispel uncertainty. Your kids will have an easier time adapting when they know what to expect.
Transfer important records
Knowing how to plan when moving with kids involves aspects that the children never even see.
Moving to a new area with school-age kids means you’ll need to send their records to their new school. Remember to notify administrators of any special needs or circumstances that will affect your children’s learning progress.
You’ll also need to find new doctors and other health professionals in the area. Make sure they have all the necessary medical documents so you and your family can stay on top of prescriptions and other health essentials.
Let them help pack
Are you wondering how to help your child cope with moving anxiety? Get them involved in the process!
You can also let them weigh in on what color to paint their new room and other rooms in your house after you move in.
These responsibilities, no matter how small, will give your children a sense of belonging and authority that connects them to the move in a positive way.
Leave out cherished belongings
Packing for a move is a long process, and the house is going to look messy and disorganized. It’s easiest to pack up one room at a time, but it isn’t that easy when you’re moving with children. The little ones will have their favorite toys, blankets, clothes, and etc. that they feel they can’t live without.
Instead of fighting with them on it, let them choose which items to pack and which ones to leave out. Kids need familiarity, and those few items will make it seem less like their world is falling apart.
Moving with kids: Throw a goodbye party
Goodbyes are always difficult, but a goodbye party is a great way to have fun before moving. You can invite the family, neighbors, and kids’ friends over to socialize and interact before you move away.
This will give everyone pleasant memories to look back on long after the fact. Kids tend to like tangible objects, so encourage those in attendance to bring a small memento for them.
It could be something that represents an inside joke, a souvenir of their hometown, or even a letter. They’ll love looking back at them and remembering the good times they had with their friends.
Arrange childcare
One of the other nitty-gritty details of moving with children is arranging a babysitter. It’s not easy to work with the moving company on moving day when you have young children that also need supervision, so it’s crucial that you set this up in the weeks prior.
Some local moving companies Westchester partner with or provide childcare services as part of the package, but others may require you to look at other options. Be sure to consider friends or family as well since the kids will be comfortable with someone familiar. If the kids are old enough to look after themselves, consider providing activities for them in a room away from the movers.