Moving can be a pretty challenging process at any age, but it is especially difficult to deal with as a child. Children tend to be more attached to their homes than adults are, and when they’re not involved in any of the decision-making processes, they become even more sensitive to change. Whether you’re dealing with teenagers, younger children, or toddlers, moving is always a sensitive topic. In times like these, it is even more important that you support your children through the difficult transition. Moreover, the hassle involved in the process is already a lot to handle. Combine that with your kids throwing tantrums, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Therefore, it’s important to develop a strategy for handling your kids while you move your stuff from one house to another. To help you with that, here are 6 tips that will make your move with kids much easier.
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Involve The Children
Processing the move can be pretty challenging for children, so, it’s better to start talking to them about it at least one to two months prior to the move. Depending on the age of your kids, they might not be able to fully understand what it entails, so try to explain in as simple words as you can. It’s important to let them know ahead of time what’s going to happen to ensure that they are able to adjust once you move to your new place. Furthermore, it’s a good idea to get them involved with the tasks of the move. Get their opinions on house decorations, and maybe let them pick the colour and decorations for their new room. This will not just distract them from any negative thoughts they might harbour, but also get them excited about the move.
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Label Everything
This should go without saying. When it comes to moving, you should make organization your number one priority. This becomes even more important when you have kids that mess around with and get into every little thing. While you’re packing, make sure to label the boxes according to their inventory, designated room, and owner’s name. For instance, if you’ve kept your kids’ toys in a box, make sure to label it, and highlight their names to ensure their toys do not get mixed up with their sibling’s toys.
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Prioritize Their Belongings
One of the most essential tips for parents when moving is to prioritize their children’s belongings. This means that you should pack their things last, and unpack them first as soon as you get to your new home. You will want your kids to feel settled in their new home as soon as possible. To do this, they will need to have familiar objects surrounding them. So, unpack their belongings first, and finish decorating their room as soon as you can. This way, you won’t have to deal with any tantrums in case their favourite toy or security blanket gets buried in a box.
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Consider Professional Help
Packing and moving are two different things, and doing it all by yourself seems hardly reasonable. On top of that, you’d also have to deal with your kids. So, instead of burning yourself out by taking too much work upon yourself, consider some professional packers and movers to help you out. If you’re moving to or from Melbourne, then it’s a good idea to get advice from removalists Moorabbin about the whole moving process in that area. If it is financially feasible for you to get help, then get someone to pack up your belongings instead of spending hours on end doing it yourself. Moreover, you can also hire a babysitter or get some of your relatives to babysit your kids while you pack and move.
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Make Room Plans
To make the kids more interested in the move, make room plans with them. You don’t have to limit this to their rooms only, in fact, if they’re willing, get their help decorating different parts of the new house. You’d be surprised what children’s imagination and creativity can muster. Make the process as fun as possible. Take the kids to the hardware store to get different paint swatches and other tools. Visit thrift stores and decoration shops to pick out different rugs, cushions, and other accessories for the new place.
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Safety First!
Always remember to make the safety of your kids the first priority when moving. If possible, baby-proof the new house before completing the move. Keep the cleaning supplies, and other similar chemicals away from your kids’ reach to ensure they don’t ingest anything dangerous. Moreover, avoid stacking your boxes too high to ensure no accidents take place.
If you’re planning to move with your kids soon, it’s important that you take the necessary precautions required to ensure their happiness and safety. Children are often sensitive when it comes to big changes in their lives. A move is one such transition they’re affected by, and thus, it is your responsibility as a parent to take proper care of them.
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