How To Make Moving Easy On Your Kids

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So you're in the process of selling your house , and now it's time to officially move out. This isn't always an easy thing to do, but what makes it even harder is when you have kids. You're no longer only dealing with your own emotions, but your child's too.

Here are a few ways you can make the move go a lot smoother for everyone.

Before You Move

Family meeting

Have a family meeting (children included) and talk about the moving plan and the timeframe. If your children are old enough to understand, they should be informed so they know what to expect. Give them a chance to have a say, or make a decision, that way they will feel in control of the situation, as opposed to being forced into something.

Visit the new home

If you haven't already, take your kids to visit the new house and to create a vision for them. Say where you'll be eating breakfast in the mornings, playing in the yard on the summer days, and deciding on whose bedroom is whose.

Reassure your children

Moving inevitably means change, and although your kids may be good at hiding their feelings, they are bound to feel a little anxious and even sad. Reassure them that everything is going to be okay. If they're moving far away from their friends, tell them it won't be the last time they'll see them, and that they will make new friends in the new location.

Packing and Decluttering

Declutter

What better time to get rid of all the useless clutter than when you're moving? If you don't use something and know that you probably never will again, donate or dispose of it. Don't hold on to things just for the sake of it. You don't want to fill your new house up with clutter just because you weren't able to throw any of it away!

Decorating and labeling boxes

Let your children draw over the moving boxes (as long as you can still see the label!) Not only will this make them feel included, but it may be a real stress reliever and a way they can look forward to the move.

Moving companies

Get help from the local movers to come and take all of your boxes and items safely, and drive them to where they need to go in an efficient manner. If you have things that you need to put into storage for a while, most companies offer short or long-term storage service to keep all of your belongings safe and secure.

Special box

Get your children to put all of their most special items away in this box. This means the teddy they sleep with, their blanket, or their coloring book and crayons. Not only is this giving your child something to focus on doing, but it will also mean they have everything they need to settle if they're feeling a little sad about being in a new environment.