Of all the things you bring with you when you move your entire family to a new state, the hardest to handle might be the emotional baggage. Even if the move will be an improvement overall, it’s still difficult for everyone to process the idea of leaving behind the familiar. The transition can be especially rough on your kids. Not only do they already have a harder time with emotions, but they’ve had little experience dealing with change. However, that doesn’t mean the experience has to be a traumatic one. There are a number of moving tips for families you can follow to make everything at least a little bit easier for you and them.
Your Moving Family Out-of-State Checklist
Here are some important ideas you can use to make moving with your family smoother for your children:
- Discuss the move openly with them: Talk to your kids about the move as soon as you can. This gives them time to let their emotions out and process the idea. It also gives them the opportunity to ask questions and prevents them from feeling like this major change to their lives happened out of nowhere. Answer their questions honestly and continue checking in on them after the initial talk so they know you’re willing to listen to their concerns.
- Pack with your children: Once they reach school age, kids like having a little more control over their lives. As you prepare for your move, give them the chance to help you pack, even if it’s nothing more than writing their names on the boxes containing their things. This will help them feel a little less anxious about the move because they will have been part of the process.
- Hire professionals: Moving day can be chaotic, especially if you try to do everything yourself, and even more so if you have small children running around while you’re doing it. To take as much of the stress and hardship off your shoulders, it’s a good idea to hire professional movers. With the packing and heavy lifting off your plate, you’ll be free to concentrate on making sure your kids get the attention they need.
- Bring something from the old house: Most kids value consistency and routine — things moving to a new town throws right out the window. Bringing along a memento from the old house can help ease the transition. This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate: Even a stick from the backyard can be enough to serve as a piece of the old house to keep the connection alive in their minds.
- Schedule “goodbye time” and other activities: Giving your kids time to say goodbye to their friends, taking a last trip to their favorite restaurant, or one final outing to the local playground can be very important for them. It helps get them used to the idea that you’re leaving and makes the transition easier.
If you’re preparing for a big move out of town with your family, the change can be difficult for your kids most of all. Following these tips can help ease their minds, especially if you call Moving Proz to handle your move. Our professionals are ready and willing to take care of everything you need, so reach out and get your quote from us today.