Moving With Children

Moving With Children

Moving with children doesn’t have to be stressful. Children love a good adventure and will most likely embrace the moving process if they are involved in all aspects along the way. By involving your kids directly in the move, moving with children can be fun, not fury.

At Busy Bee Movers, we’ve come up with some easy ways to incorporate your kids into the moving process. Not only will this help you, but it will help the kids better adjust to relocating. Asking for their help, fun projects and small packing tasks can all help incorporate your kids in the move. Here are some tips for moving with children and getting your kids excited about your move.

Remember the Following

• Tell your children about the move as soon as possible so they don’t overhear the news by accident
• Talk with them, sharing the details you think they’ll understand; ask about and listen to their reactions
• Children of different ages respond differently to a move. For example:
• Younger children tend to miss familiar people like a favorite teacher, as well as safe and secure environments like church, school or even their bedrooms
• Older children, especially teenagers, tend to miss their friends and others in the community with whom they have relationships
• Involve your children in all aspects of your relocation, if possible, including house hunting, planning the move and tasks that are age appropriate
• Have children help pack a special box with their most treasured possessions; they can even decorate the outside of the box so they can quickly identify it in your new home
• Ask for their input on decorating or arranging things in their new rooms
• Encourage your children to take the time to say goodbye to friends and maintain ties by exchanging contact information
• Make plans to continue your child’s current activities (such as Scouts, sports, dance classes, etc.) in your new community; continuity will make adjusting to a new location much easier

Create Piles

To have a child is to have lots of stuff like Lego sets with missing pieces, clothes from all stages of growth, and toys long since outgrown or forgotten. There’s a lot for any family to manage, especially when dealing with all the newness and uncertainties that come from moving and getting used to a new home.

As with adults, kids often feel better about a move when they feel more invested and in control of their space and their things.

Ask your child to go through everything in their room and divide it into four piles: keep, donate, toss and sell. If your child is really small, you will have to help them. Older children (ages 7 and over), though, can often do much of this on their own.

Suggestions for different piles:

• Present it as an opportunity; a chance to get rid of all the babyish or broken things they don’t want anymore.
• If your new home is going to feature new furniture or a new look to their room, emphasize that, too.
• If your child has items you want to donate to specific charities, box them up and take your child with you; allow them to enjoy the benefits of donating.

Consignment

Consigning can be a tricky business that can have great benefits, especially for getting money back out of your children’s old toys and clothes. Seek out the consignment stores for kids items in your town, and call them. Ask them what they are buying, and what they need.

Look through your pile for matches. Usually, consignment stores need gently worn and fashionably up-to-date children’s clothing and shoes, and mint condition toys. They will generally pay about ¼ to ½ of what you paid for the item originally.

The same is true for taking old games to be resold at used game shops. So you can decide whether you’d rather sell them here, or at your new home in a garage sale?

Have a Yard Sale

Yard sales (or garage sales) can succeed or fail based on where you live, how much foot traffic you can generate, and how much, and how good the items are you have to sell.

Sell Online

If you have particularly desirable items, like collectible games or figures, consider setting up an account through eBay and selling them there. Give the money for the item back to your child for buying new items for the new room.

Helping Your Children Adjust to the Move

The above tips for moving with children are suggestions for ways to get your kids involved with the move and prevent them from becoming maladjusted in their new living situation. Also, letting the kids help pack and house hunt can be of great assistance to you during the busy time of moving. After all, everyone needs a little extra help packing. It makes your kids feel special and needed in this important time of transition.

In Conclusion

Moving with children can be a rewarding experience for both you and them. Moving should be a time of excitement and adventure. By involving your kids in various aspects of the move, you can reduce their stress levels and ease your tension about moving with children.