Moving is stressful enough. With kids, you’re dealing with unique challenges while trying to keep everyone happy at the same time.
It’s easier for adults to go without. In a pinch, you can run to the store to buy anything you’ve left in a box or forgot back at home in the move. With children, however, there are things you’ll need with you the whole time to make them feel comfortable and settle in as quickly as possible.
On top of keeping track of things like treasured blankets or favorite toys, you also face the difficulty of organizing and packing things that are smaller, usually have more pieces, and don’t travel as well.
If you’re planning a move with kids, here are nine tips that you can use to make a move easier. Hopefully, these strategies will get you and your family where you need to go with less pain and bumps along the way.
1. Decide What Comes With You
One of the first things you should do, before you even pack, is to think about what needs to come with you on your person the day of the move. Things like personal electronic devices, a change of clothes, toys, favorite snacks, and other items need to be in a backpack or a carry-on if you’re flying. If you’re driving, you have more wiggle room and space to plan what makes the trip.
Your child is likely going to feel stressed and unsettled just before and on moving day. It’s strange to see a childhood home empty, and there is often anxiety tied to a new place with new people. Having the toys or clothes that make them feel most comfortable will help a great deal.
2. Pack By Room
Do what you can to put things in boxes according to rooms in your new house. Labels and specific boxes will make unpacking faster, and you won’t have to spend a ton of time looking for kids’ books or clothes in the chaos of boxes everywhere. You or your children can get what they need right away. Do your best to unpack their stuff early so they can start building space in their new room where they feel comfortable.
3. Use Ziploc Bags
Whether you’re trying to keep a Lego set together or want to make sure slime doesn’t explode inside of a box in transit, sealed plastic bags are your friend. You should use them for toys, liquids, and anything else you want to keep together in the move. In fact, we’ve seen people use plastic wrap to keep already-built Legos and other toys in one piece for the move. Plastic bags will help you keep hair ties together and track all of the kids’ toiletries in one place.
4. Rent a Storage Unit
Self-storage units are ideal for things like furniture and other large items. Using a storage facility will help reduce the stress of moving because you’re not overly worried about where to put your things. They come in especially handy for folks who don’t know where they’re going to live just yet. If you’re staying in a hotel or temporary living space until you find a permanent place, then renting a storage unit will keep you sane.
They’re also great for kids’ stuff because you can keep things like bikes and other large toys even when you’re staying in a hotel. You can pop over and grab them for the weekend and return them when you’re done.
5. Take the Kids Somewhere for the Day
Packing with kids running around the house or constantly asking for snacks is extremely tough, particularly once the TVs are unplugged and the internet is disconnected. To free up time and brain space for the packing, ask a friend or relative to take them for the day. If you’ve got professional movers coming, then you or your partner can take the kids to the movies or the park for a few hours while things get sorted. They’ll be away from the stress of the move, and you’ll get more things done faster.
6. Talk Things Through
Even if your kids look fine, they’re probably spending a lot of time processing the move. Even kids who move a lot don’t love it. They worry about losing their friends, fitting in at a new school, and other valid concerns. You should be talking to your kids early and often to help them feel confident about the move and let them know that you’re there to support them.
You can search together to help them research your new neighborhood together to find exciting things to try. Look at their new school and book some cool activities in your new location to build excitement before the move.
7. Let Them Help Pack
Your children may want to be part of the moving process depending on their age. Making your kids pack can empower them to feel like they have control over their lives. You can, of course, step in to make sure the computer or other fragile items are correctly packed, but most of their stuff isn’t either valuable or fragile. Set them up with some boxes and make a list of what they need to pack, and give them power over the process.
Letting them pack will also help a great deal when you arrive. They will know where everything is, and you don’t have to open a ton of boxes looking for whatever they need. Instead, they’ll go to the correct box, find their stuff, and start getting set up.
8. Pack a Kid Kit
Parents need emergency kid supplies on moving day. Whether driving or flying, you’ll inevitably come across a bloody nose, bathroom accidents, hungry kids, and other minor emergencies. Buy a small container, something the size of a shaving kit or similar. Fill it with wipes, granola bars, batteries, and anything else you can think of that you might need mid-flight or drive. This will come in handy on any move, and you just might end up keeping it in the car going forward once you realize how valuable it is.
9. Have an Entertainment Plan
Remember when we were kids, and our options during a move or travel were so limited? Now, most kids have devices they can use with batteries that last for several hours. Just don’t be that parent who gets on the plane without downloading a few shows, movies, or games for the flight. You’ll live to regret it. The same goes when your driving through fields on the highway where there is no cell signal for hours.
Plan ahead and make sure your kids have enough to keep them entertained during the move. Make sure you don’t pack chargers, headphones, and other items in boxes that you’ll need later on. When in doubt, make a list of what you need before the movers show up. Separate them out into the kids’ bags and keep them there until moving day.
These strategies will help you pack and move with confidence. Do what you can to make your child part of the process and get their input before you make any concrete decisions about what to bring and what to pack. They will love the involvement and it will teach them responsibility. The more they are involved, the less stress they’ll put on you before while you’re packing and on moving day.
If you’re looking for a storage facility to store your belongings, Provo Self Storage has got you covered. Here at Provo Self Storage, we offer a wide range of unit selections and top-notch security. To learn more about our self-storage facility, please check out our website at https://storageprovoutah.com/.
Provo Self Storage, LLC 