Big life changes are hard for many kids, so relocating with family can be tough. We’ll go over moving tips for families to make relocation as smooth as possible. There are plenty of things you can do before the move, on moving day, and after the move to help kids adjust to a new home.
Table of Contents
Before the Move
First, here’s what you can do in the months and weeks leading up to the move to get your family ready to relocate.
Communicate Openly
One moving tip for families is to communicate openly about the move. Introduce the move as soon as you can. If you wait too long, kids will have sensed something is changing. Tell them why you’re relocating and when you’ll move.
Continue to share reasons for decisions you make throughout the moving process. You can also give them a moving timeline so they know what to expect and when.
Also, encourage kids to be open with you about their concerns about the move. Check in with them to see how they’re feeling about the move. Help them find an outlet like journaling to express their emotions.
You can also help reassure kids by being honest about your own moving-related fears—but stay positive throughout the process!
Prepare Kids Emotionally
You can also help kids emotionally prepare for the move.
Acknowledge that leaving behind their house, friends, and other important locations will probably cause them some grief. Come up with ways for them to make memories of their home, like taking pictures of their bedroom.
Younger kids might also benefit from reading books about relocating. For older kids, you can support their planning to remain in touch with friends. Show them how to mail letters, or encourage them to stay connected via technology.
Help your kids come up with a plan to address any concerns they have about the move. Talk through solutions to problems and what moving might be like.
Lastly, if you can, get your kids connected to your new home before you move. For example, they can get started with a sport there.
Involve the Whole Family
Moving often makes kids feel helpless since there are so many uncontrollable changes they’ll have to deal with. But there are still some things they will have control over. Get your whole family involved in planning to relocate.
One way of getting kids involved is to take them on a trip to the new town to explore the area in advance. Do some exploring so they can find things to be excited about after they move.
If appropriate, give your kids the option to take part in some of the bigger decisions involved in relocation. See if they want to come on house or school tours. Get their feedback on potential homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
Even if you don’t involve your kids in these bigger decisions, they can still help with their bedroom. You can help them create their own moving checklist for their room, including items like dates for packing up their room and toys.
Involve kids in packing and deciding what to leave and take. Get them excited about making plans for their new bedroom: they might have a lot of fun choosing decorations, paint colors, or bedding for a new room.
You can also give kids something to look forward to by helping them choose new activities such as clubs to join after the move.
Family Moving Day
After all your preparation for relocating with family, moving day is here. If you’ve hired movers, come up with a plan for your kids. Maybe they want to have a role in moving; maybe it would help to meet the movers since they’ll be in and out of the house. Alternatively, consider arranging childcare to keep the kids out of the movers’ way!
Before you set off for good, allow your family some time to say goodbye to the old house. This time can help give your kids closure.
Lastly, think about entertainment for your kids during the move, whether it be streaming movies or letting them pack a car bag to keep them busy on the road.
Post-Move Tips
Once you arrive at your new home, consider giving your kids a housewarming gift to welcome them.
Just as you involved them in packing, you can also get them involved with unpacking. Prioritize setting up their rooms so they have somewhere that feels like home. Focus on familiar things that you’ve brought with you, like toys, bedding, or photos.
Help your kids adjust to a new setting by sticking to routines as much as possible—for example, bedtime routines or types of extracurriculars.
In addition, do what you can to connect your kids to your community. Help them sign up for clubs and teams, and take steps to meet your neighbors!
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Conclusion
Now you have some moving tips for families! Before your family relocates, communicate openly with your kids about your plans. Prepare them emotionally using strategies like helping them say goodbye, and getting them involved in the moving process with things such as making decisions and packing.
Get ready for moving day with kids, making arrangements like child care. After you arrive, help them keep their old routines while establishing new ones!
Lastly, if you’re relocating with family, consider hiring a moving company like UniMovers to help with tasks like packing up and carrying your belongings. UniMovers offers affordable, labor-only services that can take off some pressure and let you focus on your kids come moving day.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read 10% of the library books she checks out, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
