Moving is generally recognized as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. With all the tasks piling up on your plate, special considerations must be factored in when you are planning a move with children. Here are some tips to help make sure the move goes as planned and you don’t run into any stressful surprises.
Neighborhood and School Contacts
It’s important to know where your children will be attending school once you move to the new area. Take your child with you to meet teachers or the principal at the new school, as well as families who live in the neighborhood with kids going to that school. Drive by the school when you run errands to get them comfortable and familiar with the area. This will help your child tremendously with first day of school anxiety. Preparing your child for a move should be a priority to ensure a comfortable transition.Hire a Moving Company
This might seem like an expensive thing to do, but rest-assured, it will be worth every penny because of the sanity it will save you. A moving company will help make sure that your belongings are packed properly and get to the new place unharmed. Getting professional help will greatly reduce packing and unpacking times, and save you the headache of doing it yourself so you can get all the other details worked out.Pack a Special Bag
Treat the move the same way you would a vacation. Have a backpack for your children that contains activities for them to entertain themselves with for long car rides. Be sure that you include favorite blankets, toys, books and movies so you don’t find yourself searching boxes for the only item that calms your child quickly. Make sure you have a bag of essentials on hand that includes medications and emergency items as well.Plan to Keep in Touch
Before you leave, talk to your children and their best friends. Do not simply say they will keep in touch and leave it at that. If there is a special best friend that is getting left behind, go the extra mile and plan for how exactly contact will be maintained over the distance. If you will still be within driving distance, make plans for a weekend sleepover or an afternoon plan to get together and do something fun.Establishing New Plans
Research the new area and school and get your children excited about the new opportunities that will now be available to them because of the area they are moving to. Pick out new parks to explore, new restaurants to try, and new stores to shop in. When you are excited and engaged in new activities, they will likely do the same.
With a little planning, your move will go as comfortably as possible. Children will adjust in no time to a new place, but it can help ease the transition of moving if you have plans established for them to look forward to.
Informational credit to BC Alberta Movers.
