Moving is an exciting process, but there’s no denying that it can be stressful as well. In fact, in a poll conducted by OnePoll, it was ranked as the most stressful life event, even above getting a divorce or changing careers. So, if it’s stressful for you as you move, you can imagine that your kids are probably also going to feel a lot of big emotions while trying to figure out how their own lives will be affected. After all, especially if they’ve never moved before or they will be changing schools, this move might be one of the biggest changes they’ve experienced thus far in their lives. So, what can you do to make it easier on them (and you)? In our experience, doing these four things can make the whole process go much more smoothly and maybe even give you a few fewer meltdowns to work through during the process.

Before you start looking, have a talk about their fears and hopes. Do all you can to include their desires in your home search.

Like with most big points of change, talking with your kids about the fears and hopes they have is the best way to get the process off to a good start. Listen carefully to what they say and remember that to them, the idea of having to make all new friends at school or leave behind the only room they’ve ever called their own might be scary. As you acknowledge their fears and try to talk through them, it’s also helpful to ask them the sorts of things that they would love to see in their new house. Are you missing a backyard now? Would finding one make the move more exciting for them? If your priorities align there, be sure to focus on the things that they will gain through the move, not just things that they feel like they might lose. 

Show them their potential rooms when seeing a new house.

If your kids are attending the showings with you, it is a great idea to show them the secondary bedrooms and let them choose the rooms that might be theirs. Doing so helps the process feel real. If you’re pretty sure you’ve found the one, you can even talk with them about what color they want to paint the walls and where they want to put all of their furniture so they feel like they have choice and a little bit of power throughout the process. 

If you're selling your house and have to keep it clean, make a sticker chart to reward them for fulfilling their part.

Keeping your house clean enough to show at a moment’s notice isn’t easy for anyone, including your kids. However, obviously your incentive for doing so is to get top dollar on your house. Your kids, however, don’t have an inherent reward to keep them motivated to stay quite so clean unless you give them one. One way to do this is to start a cute sticker chart where your kid gets a sticker every day where their room is kept clean. Make sure that you define clean before you start this process so that it feels fair and consistent, and talk about what rewards await them if they are able to reach a certain number of stickers each week. The system that you design will depend on what motivates your kid and how many rewards you think are appropriate for your particular family.

Pack and unpack like a pro.

1. Pack a “first week in the house” bag full of portable fun for the kids. Moving is hard no matter how you do it, but there are a few ways to make it easier. One of these things is to make sure that you have a bag full of fun activities like coloring, puzzles, cards, a favorite board game, video game, etc. so that you can take fun breaks in between unpacking to breathe and spend some time together. After all, a move is a big change in routine, and for families used to routine, building a new one filled with a little fun can make the whole thing seem a little more manageable, especially when there are kids in the picture. 
2. Unpack your kids’ rooms first. When you’re packing up your car, one of the best things you can do for your sanity is to not only pack up your kids’ things last (so that they have their comfort objects and things that will keep them entertained for as long as possible) but also so that they are the first things to come back out of the truck, right alongside the basics like a couple of pans for cooking and necessary bathroom items. If you are able to do this, then your kids will once again have a safe, finished space to hang out in while you can pay attention to unpacking the rest of your things. 

Help your kid get connected to their new home by making them a priority.

One of the most important things you can do when moving is to make sure that you have a real feel for the area. For you as an adult, that probably means finding your local grocery stores, gym, and great restaurants. But, for your kids, whose social lives mostly revolve around finding friends at school and hanging out with their neighbors, it’s super important to help them settle in by finding opportunities for them to meet these new potential friends and begin finding a sense of normalcy again. Don’t see any good opportunities? Try creating one! You and your family will be settled in before you know it. 

We hope that this information has been helpful and that it has helped you understand the sorts of factors thatWe hope that these tips help you and your kids have a much better experience moving. There’s no doubt that it will still be tough, but as long as you take the steps you need to, you’ll be able to keep the stress to a minimum and enjoy all of the exciting reasons you decided to move! If you have any follow up questions for us, please reach out by sending us a message using the messenger icon or by calling or texting (678) 242-9981.