Top Tips for Moving House with Children
Moving house can be stressful at the best of times. Add children to the mix, and you can guarantee that stress is going to be cranked up a few notches.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
While every child is different and will cope with the move in a different way, there are a number of ways you can make the whole process easier. So, whether your child is likely to take moving house in their stride or is going to be overwhelmed by the experience, the team here at Britannia Sandersteads has put together some great tips for moving house with children.
Before the move
You’ve got your moving date, and are ready to begin the moving process. But before you get started, it’s important to discuss the move with your little ones. It’s possible that your current home is the only place they’ve ever called home, so the process is bound to be somewhat overwhelming.
Take the time to talk to them about what is happening. Be positive and excited in your language, to reassure them that this is a good thing. If possible, visit your new home and local area and show the children around. This is a great way to familiarise them with the new place so they’re not going into a complete unknown on moving day.
Pay particular attention to their mood and behaviour over this time. It’s possible that they won’t reveal their anxiety straight away. You may need to have more than one conversation with them to address their concerns. Just remember, every child is unique and there is no right or wrong way to react to a big change.
If you think you’re going to need help with childcare at any stage during the moving process, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Utilise grandparents, other relatives or friends if you think it will make the experience easier.
Packing
Packing is perhaps the biggest aspect of any move – and can be the most stressful. With this in mind, it’s always a good idea to do most of the packing in the absence of the children. Whether this is when they’re at school, nursery or when they’ve gone to sleep, any time they’re not around is a great time to get some packing done.
While it can be tedious and time-consuming, it also provides a great opportunity to de-clutter your belongings. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used an item in the last 12 months, then it can be donated or thrown away.
As mentioned earlier, it’s best to do the bulk of the packing when the children are out of the way. But this is not always possible.
When they are around, get them involved as much as possible. While you won’t want them handling the fragile items, you can involve them in a fun way by asking them to decorate boxes or sort out their toys.
To minimise stress and make the process run smoothly, pack each room independently. Always leave your children’s room until last, keeping any disruption to them to an absolute minimum. In particular, leave their most-used toys until last and maybe keep a favourite teddy or doll out to act as a companion on moving day.
During the move
Once moving day arrives, it’s best to conduct the actual move itself when the children are not around. If you cannot organise it on a school day, it’s worth getting a babysitter so the children are not underfoot. As well as being boring for them, it could also be dangerous with so many heavy objects being moved around.
If this is not possible, make sure there is food and drink available so they do not get hungry or thirsty, and are kept occupied and out of the way.
The best way to minimise stress and keep things running smoothly and to time on moving day is to hire professional removers. Professional home removals can also take care of packing if you so wish.
After the move
Once you’ve moved to your new home, make organising your children’s room a priority. It’s important that they feel settled as soon as possible, so get their room set up straight away. Also, making it look as similar as possible to the old house is a great way to get them accustomed to their new surroundings.
You can also get them involved in the unpacking in a fun way. Maybe make it their responsibility to unpack and organise their toys or clothes. Giving them a purpose will help them settle in, while also keeping them occupied while you plough through the boxes. Any older children can help take the lead with their younger siblings.
Also, be aware that behaviour and mood may change in the immediate aftermath of a move. Make sure to be sympathetic to this, and be prepared to have open conversations with them about how they feel.
At Britannia Sandersteads, we provide leading removal services across London, Croydon and Surrey. Helping minimise stress and make the process as straightforward as possible for you, get in touch with the team today to find out more.