The very idea of packing up and relocating with children present is enough to induce fear and tension in the majority of parents, especially if you’re moving to a new city. It’s only natural to feel anxious while packing up your entire family and preparing to move to a completely new neighborhood and home. On top of that, you have to worry about the safety of your kids and belongings during your move. With kids running around and emptying boxes or requiring special care, the process can be stressful and even overwhelming. The bright side is that there are ways to have stress-free moving as a big family. Here are some tried-and-true methods for having a wonderful time as a family while getting reading ready for a fresh start in your brand-new home.
It’s possible to go through stress-free moving as a big family
There is no universal reaction to life’s major transitions, and moving is no exception. A significant upheaval in a child’s routine and way of life can be very disturbing. Consequently, it makes the entire process much more stressful for parents, and the stress only multiplies with the number of kids in the family.
Caption: Communicating openly about your upcoming relocation is the key to a stress-free moving as a big family.
Alt-tag: a big family preparing a meal together in a large kitchen
Even if you do your best to explain to help your children understand this change isn’t bad, it can still be hard for them to get used to this fact. But you shouldn’t dismiss their concerns out of hand because there are simple ways to make them feel more at ease and even excited about the thought of a new house. So here are seven simple steps for a stress-free move as a big family.
#1 Prepare your kids
The most important thing to do in order to make your family move as stress-free as possible is to call a family gathering as soon as you finalize your decision. You should give everyone an opportunity to ask questions as well as give them time to adjust. On the other hand, you’ll get plenty of time to get everyone pumped up about the great things to come at the new location. You can even show them around the new place and get to know your new communities. Focusing on the positive sides is always helpful.
#2 Give yourself enough time
Even if you were moving on your own, you would still need to take enough time to prepare and organize everything. However, given that you’re moving with your big family, you must take as much time as possible to sort everything out. With your children randomly distracting you and everything you have to take care of daily, packing and moving as a busy mom can be pretty overwhelming. Therefore, make peace with the fact that you can’t do this in no time but take at least four weeks to pack up your entire house to prevent falling behind.
#3 Maintain a routine
Maintaining some kind of regularity in your day is helpful during a move. Children have a more difficult time adjusting to drastic changes in their routines, such as those brought on by a move. Maintain routines such as the same dinner time, regular game night, or other family rituals to help ease the strain of the move on your loved ones. You’ll benefit from it, too.
#4 Involve your kids in packing
Children like to feel helpful and needed, so if you ask them to help out with moving tasks, we guarantee they’ll jump at the opportunity. Plus, it’s possible to make packing more than a tedious routine. Let the kids have some creative fun while helping out (and keeping them out of your hair) by having them decorate moving boxes. Take lots of pictures and videos as the kids help you pack to remember the time when everyone in the family worked together.
Caption: There are plenty of ways to make boring moving-related tasks more fun for everyone in your family.
#5 Be prepared for the moving day
The moving day will arrive sooner than you expect, so you must ensure you’re ready. First, pack plenty of food and drinks and have them at your disposal. Also, since your kids will be left to their own devices for long periods while the adults take care of everything, it’s essential to have plenty of things to keep them occupied. Therefore, don’t forget to bring their favorite games, tablets, or anything else that might keep them entertained.
#6 Make settling into your new home fun
As soon as your movers bring everything into your new home, get your kids to help you unpack. Play it off as another game. Whoever finishes unpacking their bags first might perhaps choose the dinner venue for the group. Put them to work by giving them menial jobs like folding, packing paper, and dismantling boxes. With your kids’ attention diverted from the chaos of moving to the fun of the new adventure, unpacking will go faster, and everyone will be in a better mood.
#7 Make your new property feel like home
It may take some time to get used to your new house, but you can help your children feel more at ease by bringing out their familiar bedding, toys, and toiletries as soon as possible. Put them in a container labeled “first day” so you can quickly find them. Having these goods on hand will help smooth the transition and reduce the burden of the relocation.
Caption: By focusing on the positive aspects of your move, you’ll make it more fun and exciting for your entire family.
Alt-tag: Parents playing with their son by pushing him around in a cardboard box while unpacking after a move
Wrapping up
We hope our tips made planning your family move that much simpler and easier. Trust us, stress-free moving as a big family is possible and can be quite easy if you take your time and start organizing everything in advance. And above all, be honest and communicate with your kids from the start as that way, when the dreaded moving day finally comes, it won’t be as hard for them. We wish you the best of luck!
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