10 Helpful Tips For Moving With Kids
March 11th, 2024
Moving With Kids
Are you moving with kids? Here are ten helpful tips for moving with kids to keep things easy and stress-free.
Moving is stressful for everyone involved, especially for kids. Not only will kids have to leave everything they know behind, but they will also not get a say about where they are going.
While moving is often necessary, most of the time, for housing-related, family-related, or employment-related reasons, it still does not make moving any easier. Even if a family wants a newer, better, and larger house, having to start all over at a new school, meet new friends, and explore a new area is often met with tears.
Whether you have a toddler or a teen, moving with kids is not easy, but there are certain ways you can go about it and tips that you can follow to make the moving process less scary.
It is often better to relocate with younger children; about 75% of children under six live with two parents. Teenagers often take moving homes harder than elementary school-aged children since they often feel like they have to reinvent themselves and have to start all over making it difficult to find their place.
No matter how old your kids are, following these ten helpful tips for moving with kids will hopefully make the process as painless as possible for everyone involved.
Here is what you need to know when moving with kids
Chapters
1. Let Your Children Participate
Relocation can be hard for children, but letting them participate in moving day will allow them to focus on all of the good things a move will bring. Not only will it give you a few extra hands to help out, but if your kids are old enough, they can help sort through their own belongings and assist with packing.
Letting your children participate and give them an important role during the move will give them a sense of control and purpose while also helping lower moving costs. Involvement will get their mind off of all of the reasons why they might not want to move and encourage them to get excited about moving to a new neighborhood.
2. Establish a Routine
One of the best tips when moving with kids is to establish a structured routine and stick with it. Consistency is key, and when a routine is in place that the kids are used to, then it will make moving easier for all involved.
Returning to familiar routines can help make transitioning into a new home less overwhelming, especially for young children. While sticking to a routine can be difficult, especially in the middle of cleaning your home, unpacking, and interior decorating, it can make a huge difference for your kids.
Some of the best routines that can be established and kept include morning rituals, nap times, having family dinner around the dinner table, bath times, and bedtime schedules.
3. Talk to Your Kids About Moving
It is important to talk to your kids about moving and encourage open communication about this life change. Sharing the news with your kids should be direct and straightforward with a positive twist.
While it can be easy to wait to tell your kids, they will accept moving better if you tell them in advance and give them enough time to process their emotions. Tell them why you are moving and when you are moving, explain what will change, and encourage them to ask questions and express their feelings.
No matter how old your kids are, be prepared for tears and negative emotions. It is most likely that your kids will be upset to move homes, leave their friends, and change schools.
The best thing to do is acknowledge their feelings, let them know you understand, and give them space to work through their emotions. Reminding your kids that you are there for them and talking them through the process is one of the best things you can do.
4. Visit the New Home Beforehand
If you are not moving far, it might be a good idea to visit the new home beforehand with the whole family. Showing your kids where you will be living next is a great way to get them to open up about the idea and show them what they can expect from their new home.
It is one thing to talk about moving but another actually to see the new home in person. When visiting the new home, take the time to explore the neighborhood and check out the area by visiting a local restaurant or park nearby.
The transition will be easier once your kids can picture themselves living in their new home and are familiar with the new area. This might not be possible if you are moving cross-country, but even showing your kids pictures of the house and yard might suffice.
5. Allow Enough Time to Adjust
Moving is considered the most stressful life event, ahead of getting divorced and having kids. However, selling your home after getting divorced might be a contender. No matter what age your kids are, their lives are just as impacted as yours when you decide to move house.
Much like starting and experiencing any new thing in life, it is going to take time to adjust to your new home, and it is important that you allow your kids to take the time that they need to do that.
While it may take some kids only a few months to adjust, it might take others more than a year, and that is okay. Remember that everyone experiences big life changes, such as moving differently.
6. Have a Plan For Moving Day
Once move-in day rolls around, it is essential to have a plan and to stick to that plan as much as possible. Planning ahead will remove the unknown and let your kids know what to expect from the day, especially if you are hiring a professional mover.
Once a plan is made, discuss it with your kids and review it multiple times as the move-in date gets closer. If your kids are old enough, you can give them tasks and get them involved to make the day fun.
When making the plan, consider any potential issues that might arise ahead of time and discuss how to handle those situations.
7. Create a Moving Checklist
Moving can be stressful, but it does not have to be complicated. One of the best things you can do when moving is to create a moving checklist. A moving checklist should include everything that needs to be done leading up to move-in day.
This checklist can be tailored to your kids and should be part of the planning process. Best used as a reference, this checklist can include tasks before move-in day, move-in day itself, and after moving.
A moving checklist that is tailored to your kids could include tasks such as researching schools in the area, forwarding medical records, hosting a farewell party with friends, packing a "first-night" bag, creating moving day activities, meeting the neighbors, and exploring the neighborhood.
8. Set Up Kids Room First
Once you arrive at your new home and start unpacking, make an effort to set up your kid's room first. One of the best ways to get your kids excited about the move is to get them thinking about how they want to decorate their room.
Keeping their old bed and familiar toys and books will provide them with comfort, but giving them the freedom to move their furniture around and set their room up how they like could encourage them to accept the move faster.
Your kids will look forward to their new safe spaces if you offer them the option to paint their room and hang up fun artwork and decorations on the walls.
9. Let Them Help Unpack
Unpacking is not fun, but the process will go faster if you have kids willing to help. Not only is it great to have extra pairs of hands to settle into your new home, but leaving them in charge of unpacking will give them something important to do.
Involving your kids in the moving process as much as possible is one of the best ways to get them used to the idea and to accept their new home. Letting your kids make a few decisions and involving them in unpacking will help them feel in control and stable at such an unstable time.
Your kids do not have to unpack every single box, but they could start by helping to unpack their own stuff and work on setting up their room and play area.
10. Befriend Neighbors
If you are relocating to a neighborhood in Raleigh, finding a home in a family-friendly area with many other kids might benefit you and your family. There is no better way to adjust after a move than to befriend your neighbors and meet others.
Neighbors with kids that are similar in age to yours mean they can make new friends fast and always have someone to play and hang out with. Befriending your neighbors also means that you can talk to people who might have similar experiences and can show you around your new area.
Most neighborhoods host community events where you can introduce yourself. Do not be intimidated to put yourself out there to meet new people. Getting to know your neighbors can be a great resource.
Methodology
We used data and information from multiple different and reliable sources, including the US Census Bureau, The Washington Post, and CBS News, to determine the best tips for families who are moving with kids.
FAQs
What age is the hardest for kids to move?
The hardest age for kids to move is in their early teenage years, between the ages of 12 and 14, while they are in middle school because it is a time of self-discovery. Studies show that a child who moves at the age of 14 has double the risk of suicide by middle age.
What age is best to relocate children?
The best age to move with your kids is when they are in elementary school, between five and eight years old when they are still young and look up to their parents. It is easier for younger children to relocate since they are often more adaptable.
How long does it take kids to adjust to moving?
Children need time to adjust to moving to a new place, which can take as little as a few months to over a year, depending on the child and age. When moving, it is important to be patient with your kids and give them time to get used to their new home and space.
Is moving hard on children?
There is a connection between moving and depression developing in children. When families frequently move, studies have shown that children are more than likely to perform poorly in school, have behavior problems, and report feelings of unhappiness.
Helpful Tips For Moving With Kids - Final Thoughts
Whether you are moving to a different city or just down the street to a new neighborhood, moving is a big life change that will impact the whole family. By following the above tips, you will be able to approach the impending move with your kids with care and understanding.
Whether you are moving to Raleigh or another location in the Triangle area, contact the experts at Raleigh Realty to find your dream home. We are here to help and answer any questions.
Ryan Fitzgerald
Hi there! Nice to 'meet' you and thanks for visiting our Raleigh Real Estate Blog! My name is Ryan Fitzgerald, and I'm a REALTOR® in Raleigh-Durham, NC, the owner of Raleigh Realty. I work alongside some of the best Realtors in Raleigh. You can find more of my real estate content on Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and more. Realtor Magazine named me a top 30 under 30 Realtor in the country (it was a long time ago haha). Any way, that's enough about me. I'd love to learn more about you if you'd like to connect with me on Facebook and Instagram or connect with our team at Raleigh Realty. Looking forward to connecting!
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