Make moving with children a breeze with these easy tips.
With the help of Dot Property you have found the dream home for your and your family. It is bigger than you could have hoped for, has plenty of space for all your children’s toys, is modern yet homely and is in your number one location. Now you need to think about moving. Not so easy when you have your brood of children in tow.
1. Declutter.
Before you even think about packing your home up spend a good few weeks decluttering. Go through every room one by one to get rid of any items that you no longer need. If you haven’t worn a pair of jeans in the last year, they have to go. For your children this is a time to sort their toys and donate anything that may be too young for them. Throw out any of their clothes that are stained, too small or simply not suitable.
Scale down on your toiletries and medicines by disposing of anything past their sell by date. Use the ends of shower gel and shampoos. Take this as a time to clear our your kitchen of old food, discard any glasses with chips or any utensils that you no longer use. Lastly don’t forget to go through your pile of paperwork, throw out anything you no longer need and file the rest. Take time to declutter and it will be worth it. There is little point moving items you no longer need so lighten the load before you go. Plus it will also make it easier to unpack at the other end.
2. Don’t pass on any stress.
Moving is deemed to be one of the most stressful things that you can do in your lifetime. It can be time consuming, involve a lot of administrative errands, and can cause conflict due to heightened pressure. It is important to keep any negatives conversation out of earshot from your children so that they do not take any of this burden on. Keep adult conversations until after they are safely tucked up in bed.
3. Move at the right time.
Moving mid way through the week or even the school term can be disruptive. Where possible pick a time which will give your children a chance to settle into their surroundings. During the holidays is the ideal time assuming that they are not stacked up with revision for impending exams.
4. Involve your children.
Moving can be an unsettling time for children. So dependent on their age it is wise to get them on board with the move. Speak about your new home in a positive light, make it sound exciting and a new adventure. Show them round before they move in so that they know what to expect. Ask for their help to pick paint colours, where their bed should be placed or even where to hang a picture.
5. Enlist the help of professionals.
If your budget allows recruit the services of professional movers. Depending on the level of service, they can pack all your items, move them and then unpack them. Packing can take time, which many parents lack. Movers tend to come in the day that you move meaning that you can still wake up in your own beds and have breakfast together, before moving and hopefully enjoying dinner in your new home.
6. Call on family and friends.
Ideally you want your children out of the way whilst your home is being packed up. So see if your family or friends can take them out for the day. To the cinema or just to play round at their house. Remember to pack everything that your child needs for the day in a bag such as food or sleeping bag should they still nap during the day, before everything is packed up for the move around you.
