Moving is one of life’s most stressful tasks and if you have children to consider the process can be even more daunting. Not only will you have more things to pack but you’ll also have to think about the physical and emotional aspects of relocating too, so how can you make the transition as peaceful as possible? Here are a few tips:
Hire a storage unit
As a parent you’ll know that kids seem to enjoy undoing all the hard work you do throughout the day. Clean the floor and they’ll walk around in muddy boots; hoover up crumbs and they’ll spill their dinner; do the ironing and they’ll pull all the freshly pressed clothes off the chair. That’s just the way it is and even if you’ve raised little angels, packing up your home is never easy with small people wandering round. Boxes can easily be unpacked by curious hands, so it might be worth keeping anything that’s ‘ready to go’ in a storage unit. Safe, secure facilities are readily available and local stores can be found via the Ready Steady Store website which is designed to make your life easier.
Find a babysitter
If possible, try to arrange a babysitter for the day you actually want to move. This will make things a lot simpler as you can do all the hard work in the knowledge that your kids are happy and safe – every parent’s dream. Grandparents might be willing to help out (especially if they know how stressed and anxious you are), or you could ask a friend or relative whom your children know well for assistance – just make sure you book them in advance to avoid disappointment. Of course, it’s not always easy to leave your little ones, especially if you’ve got a new baby, so if you are busy playing Mummy and Daddy, look for a moving company that will help you carry boxes to and from each house, or recruit plenty of manpower to get the job done quickly.
Pack a box of essentials
If the kids are staying with you on moving day, be sure to pack a box of essentials to leave in the car. This should include plenty of food and drink, spare clothes and a host of popular travel games which will keep them entertained during the journey (particularly if your new property is located a fair distance away). It’s also essential to prepare anything you’ll need for the first night in your new home including pyjamas, dressing gowns, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other hygiene products to help keep the children’s routine as normal as possible. Don’t forget that moving impacts kids emotionally too, so make sure they have their favourite teddy bear, blanket or toy for comfort.
Allocate jobs to the older kids
Preparing children for a house move is not always the easiest of tasks, but helping them to feel as involved as possible is a good place to start. Allocating jobs to older kids will not only make them feel useful but with more people helping out the move is sure to run a lot smoother. While packing and labelling boxes is one thing they could do, you could also assign them cleaning tasks or ask them to find the best route to the new property on a map. They could even prepare the Sat Nav or be responsible for taking care of their siblings.
While moving is one of the most stressful things any family will do, the above tips will ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.