Tips for Moving House When You Have Children

Moving house is a notoriously stressful time, so whatever you can do to reduce the amount of hard work and lower your stress levels, the better! Adding children to the process can bring even more issues into the mix, who’ll have their own anxieties about moving, and who will most likely slow down the moving process on the day. If you’re looking for a house move that’s smoother for your family, here are some suggestions for you.

Get the kids involved

They don’t need to be involved in the final say of course but let them be involved in the process so it’s not too much of a shock when the time comes. If you can, invite them to one of the viewings, especially once you’ve decided on a new home so they know what to expect and can start getting excited. You might want to let them choose their own room or think about what colors they’d like their new room to be decorated.

Once you’ve chosen a new place, take the children around the new area so they know what exciting activities they can do near the new home. Is there a park or a farm nearby? Getting them used to the area could help to minimize any feelings of anxiety or reluctance to move and leave what they are used to.

Hire a moving company

This doesn’t have to be expensive and doesn’t have to involve spending lots of time getting individual quotes from moving companies. You can use Shiply to find a suitable moving company at a reasonable cost by entering the details of your move. You’ll receive quotes from a number of companies already traveling in that direction for you to choose between. Make sure you specify what sort of service you require - if you need help packing as well as transportation, put this on your listing so companies can quote accordingly. Having professional help could allow you to have an extra pair of hands and prevent you having to do so much physical work yourself. If you have the children around you on moving day it’s always helpful to have some help so the moving doesn’t all rely on you.

Keep the kids occupied on moving day

If it’s possible, try and do the majority of the move while the children are at school, or arrange for them to stay at a friend’s house for the day, so that they are not involved in the stressful moving process (and getting in the way!). If you can, try and assemble their bed and add a few familiar belongings to their bedroom so they have somewhere to relax and call their own when they arrive at their new home for the first time. If the kids have to stay with you during the move, try to give them appropriate tasks to do like dusting or basic furniture assembly (if they are old enough), but if that’s not possible, set up a fun playground in the garden to keep them occupied, or invite other families with children to help out and take turns checking on them. Thank them with a BBQ after the move if you have the energy!

Schedule proper goodbyes for their friends

Arrange an afternoon or series of visits to people that you are not likely to see as often once you’ve moved into your new place, like neighbors or school friends. Allow them to say goodbye and try to keep up these friendships despite moving away by swapping addresses and arranging a housewarming party where you can show them your new home once you’ve moved in. Reassure the children that they’ll still be able to see their friends even though you’re not living close by anymore.