Before the move:
Preparing the kids for the change.
One thing that can help smaller children cope with a house move much more easily is if their parents slowly prepare them for the changes that are about to happen. This means having conversations with them about moving house and going through what will happen on the day as well.
After all, young children can often feel as things are happening around them, and that they don’t have any control over what is going on. Happily, thoroughly briefing them can help to change this and ensure they deal with what can be a stressful time that much better.
Of course, it’s also vital that you listen to any concerns or worries that your children express, no matter how minor or silly they seem to you as an adult. This is because if you have kids under 4 its highly likely that they have spent their entire life in the home that you are in now, and moving isn’t just a task that needs to be completed to them. Instead, it’s an experience that takes them away from everything and everyone they know, something that can be incredibly scary.
Decluttering.
The next things you can do to improve your chances of surviving a move when you have little ones under four is to take some time to declutter your home before you start to pack it up. Yes, I know that this may seem like a task you just don’t have time for, but there are some distinct advantages to doing so.
The first is that when you do come to packing your possessions, you will have a lot less to manage and organise. The second is that it reduces the likelihood of taking items that you really don’t want and never use with you to your new property. Something that can cause you to waste time and effort while moving, not to mention raise the cost of any removal services you use.
Lastly, and perhaps the most crucial advantage of decluttering your items before you start to pack up for the move is that you can actually involve the kids in this process. Something that once again can help them feel as if they have more agency in what is happening, and so can make the move and subsequent weeks a lot easier on the entire family.
Packing up your possessions.
Love it or hate it, packing your family’s possessions up to take to the new home is something that has to be done. Of course, you can choose to leave things until the last minute, throwing stuff into bin bags willy-nilly. Although doing so, it’s likely to cause you significant amounts of stress and make dealing with any tantrums and tears from the kids even more difficult.
Instead, aim to be organised so you can have as smooth a transition from your old home to your new one as possible. Something that means using proper boxes and labelling them with the room in the new house they should go to is always a smart idea.
Packing up the kids items.
Finally, before moving day, do remember to pack up the things your kids use the most, last. In fact, doing so can help them stay much more settled in your old property. It also ensures that such items will go on the moving truck last too. Which means you can unpack them first and get the kids’ bedrooms set up right away. Something that can help them make a smoother transition, and also give them a safe space to play in while you attend to unpacking the rest of the house.
On moving day:
Get some professional help.
I’m not talking about seeing a counsellor here, although that might be just how you are feeling right now! Instead, help refers to professional removalists that are trained and experienced in making your house move go as smoothly as possible. In fact, by using a professional removal company rather than try to do all the heavy lifting yourself, you can make the whole experience much less stressful. Something that, in turn, can help you stay calm and allow you to dedicate more time to the kids while they go through this experience. However, it’s important to connect with removalists Sydney (or those in your current location) as soon as possible to make sure they are available and you’re not left without professional help when you need it most.
Getting some help can certainly lighten the load on moving day.
Babysitters are a good thing.
Alternatively, you may decide that the kids are better off out of the picture altogether when it comes to moving day. Something you can achieve by employing ababysitter or getting a trusted family member to take care of the on the day of the move.
In fact, there are some distinct advantages to doing things this way, as it means you do not have to be concerned with watching the little ones or their safety and can completely dedicate yourself to the task of moving house. It can even make things easier for the kids as well, as it will provide you with enough time to get their rooms sorted in your new property. Something that means they can settle in straight away.
Get the kids settled first.
In fact, getting the kids settled in your new home before you attend to anything else is always a smart idea. Happily, it’s not difficult to do as long as you keep all of their bedding and toys together. You can even move these items in your own car, while the rest of your home contents are on the trucks. Then you won’t risk losing anything, and you can get started on their rooms while you wait for the professional movers to arrive with the rest of your possessions.
Manage high emotions.
If you have moved home before, you will know that it can be an exhausting experience, and that is just for the adults. Of course, all that change can have a considerable effect on the mood and emotions of your children as well. With that in mind, it is well worth preparing for this on moving day.
One way that you can do that is to set aside a room that no one but family can go into during the hubbub of moving. It can then be used as a sanctuary for you if you get anxious, or if you feel the little ones are getting overwhelmed.
Additionally, it’s wise to forget cooking on your first night in your new house and treat the family to a takeout instead. In fact, not only will this help you to better manage your stress by crossing off another task from your list, but it can also give the kids a positive bonding family experience to look forward to at the end of a difficult day.
Once you get into your new home:
Get to know the neighbourhood.
After the chaos of moving day, you may expect everything to calm down. Of course, there will still be much to be done, including unpacking, organising, and even decorating in the new property. Although it is essential to make time for helping your children to get to know their new neighbourhood too.
In fact, this may entail visiting stores, parks, play areas, and even new schools or nurseries, so they get as familiar as possible with things in their new life. Also, it is always desirable to get them integrated socially as quickly as possible as well. Something that throwing an open house for other families in the neighbourhood can help you achieve.
Start up a lost and found board.
Finally, no matter how careful you are in your decluttering, packing, and unpacking stages, some things will always go missing. This being a situation that can be particularly frustrating for younger children to deal with.
Happily, there is an easy fix for this once you have moved into your new property. In fact, all you need to do is create a lost a founding board, and then place it somewhere prominent in the house. Like the kitchen table.
The idea being to write up or get the kids to draw any items that they can’t find since unpacking. It can also be used to clip things that are found that belong to someone else as well. Thus providing the entire family with a missing items hub, and hopefully reuniting the little ones with their stuff quickly and efficiently. Something that in turn can help your kids make the adjustment to living in, and loving their new home go as smoothly as possible.
This is a collaborative post.
