Moving house can be very exciting and a great opportunity for a fresh start; however, if there are children around, the move could also present quite a number of difficulties. Be it packing toys, organizing the children’s rooms or helping them cope with the emotional stress of moving house, moving with kids involves more effort than usual.

Children have strong ties to their house, neighborhood, school and friends. Even in a positive move, they might be feeling uncertain of what is going to happen. Luckily, parents can ease the process considerably by including children in the move and making them feel comfortable through it all.

If you are moving within the city or even to another place altogether, these handy tips will definitely help you make moving house with children easier.

While adults deal with logistics such as packing up the house and hiring the moving truck, children experience the event from an emotional perspective. The comfort zone for children revolves around their physical surroundings, such as the bedroom, backyard, street and school.

Psychologists note that moving disrupts a child’s routine and support network at the same time, which is why it can trigger stress responses similar to other major life changes. Younger children may struggle to understand why they’re leaving a home they love, while older kids and teenagers often worry about the social fallout — leaving friends behind, starting at a new school, or losing their place in a sports team or friend group.

It may not be the case that your kid will say, “I’m nervous about moving.” Look out for symptoms such as:

• More clinginess or insomnia
• Regression in toddlers (thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, temper tantrums)
• Agitation or withdrawal in older children and teenagers
• Constant questions regarding the new residence or school
• Inability to pack personal items

Detecting these symptoms in advance will help you to tackle them before the move, rather than dealing with an outburst when the van is waiting at your driveway.

The sooner you begin to prepare your children, the easier the transition process becomes. Preparing for something is not only about planning, but it is about giving your children time to adjust.

The moment you have finalized your decision about the move, gather all your children and explain things to them in easy words. Refrain from saying anything like “there’s a possibility that we will have to move very soon”. Rather give them a specific date when they will be moving to their new place. Explain to them what the move means for them.

It is important to discuss the difficult aspects of the move, but at the same time, you should tell them some good things about the move too.

A child will have a much easier time handling a change if he or she feels like there is some element of control involved. Some examples based on age include:

• The color/ theme for his/her new bedroom
• What toys/ items are packed first
• Fun things to do in the new neighborhood
• Outfit or backpack for the big day

If you’re moving within Brisbane or nearby, take your kids to see the new house and street before moving day. Point out nearby parks, playgrounds, or landmarks. If a school transfer is involved, arranging an orientation visit can significantly ease first-day nerves.

For school-aged kids, the idea of walking into an unfamiliar classroom is often more stressful than the physical move itself.

Get in touch with the new school beforehand to find out whether there are orientation or buddy programs, or whether you can at least meet your teacher prior to the start of the term.

Packing is where a lot of family stress builds up — especially when children see their belongings disappearing into boxes. A thoughtful packing strategy protects both their emotional wellbeing and their favourite possessions.

Provide each kid with his own little box or bag in which he can place his favorite things – a toy bear, a blanket, a couple of books. Take that box only with yourself and not in the truck with the movers, because it will come handy at the time when you arrive there at night and everyone is exhausted.

For younger children, turn packing into an activity rather than a stressful task:

• Let them decorate their moving boxes with stickers or drawings
• Create a “treasure hunt” where they find and pack items from a list
• Use countdown calendars so they can visually track how many “sleeps” until moving day

In as much as you can, keep to a normal schedule for meals, sleep and post school engagements even during the moving period. It makes the children feel secure since they get accustomed to doing certain things at specific times of the day.

Moving day itself is often the most hectic part of the process, with removalists coming and going, furniture being carried through hallways, and parents juggling a dozen tasks at once. This is where having a solid plan for your kids really pays off.

If you have young kids or toddlers, it is recommended that you arrange for their time on moving day to be spent at a friend or relative’s house. This will allow your mind to be clear during the process of moving since having little ones around a moving truck, boxes, and other things can prove to be dangerous for them.

To assist with the children staying at your place on the day of the move, ensure that you have a bag ready with the following:

• Snack and water bottles
• Tablet, books, or coloring items
• Headphones in case they need some quiet time
• An extra set of clothes

Ensure that you give the child an age-appropriate responsibility such as keeping watch on the pet, carrying a little box of his belongings, or labeling boxes.

The most straightforward approach that will ease your family’s relocation day is to hire professional and qualified removalists who know what they are doing. The team at SS Removals and Rentals is very proficient in relocating your household in Brisbane or South East Queensland; we can help with your home move, furniture removal and even interstate relocation so that you can concentrate on your child rather than carrying your sofa in through the door. You will save much more time as well since the process will be quicker.

The work doesn’t end once the boxes are inside. How you handle the first few days and weeks in the new home plays a big role in how quickly your kids settle.

When it is possible, give priority to arranging the bedrooms of your children first. Getting settled into your new home can be easier when kids have their beds, favorite toys, and other belongings in place so they feel like they are already at home.

Restore mealtimes, bedtimes, and Saturday activities immediately if possible. If you used to have a particular bedtime ritual or Saturday morning pancakes for your kids in the old house, maintaining that in the new house sends the message that home is family, not necessarily a house.

Start off by spending the first week visiting parks, libraries, stores, and playgrounds with the entire family. It will help in getting used to the place much faster and allow children to create positive impressions about their new environment.

Seek out local activities which fit with the interests of your child, such as sports clubs and other school activities or community groups. This will provide your child with natural settings in which they can develop friendships.

It will be difficult for toddlers to grasp the idea of movement in the way that an older child might. The emphasis should be on sustaining physical rituals (nap-time, meal-times), with additional comfort through cuddles and toys.

Children at this stage usually react positively when given information and asked for their opinions. Proper communication, school orientation, and keeping friendships by playing together could be very helpful in this regard.

They can object to a move quite explicitly especially if the move entails leaving behind friends and other familiarities. Be sure to listen to their concerns and not dismiss them. Let them be actively involved in planning their new surroundings. It may just take time before the teenagers get comfortable with the new surroundings.

Moving with kids requires additional preparation, patience, and empathy, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience for your family. With proper emotional preparation of your children, inclusion in the moving process, preservation of their sense of stability, and utilization of professional movers who will handle the physical side of things, you can make an overwhelming experience truly a positive one.

Are you planning to move your family within the Brisbane or South East Queensland region? The professional removalists from SS Removals and Rentals will take care of all logistics so that you can focus on what really matters in your situation – your children. We offer services of residential and furniture removals, interstate removals, and truck hire at any time of the day.

Contact SS Removals and Rentals now to plan your move without stress.