Uprooting your family and hauling them to a new house is no easy task—especially if you’re traveling with little ones. Long attitude-filled days and sleepless nights are nearly unavoidable when moving with children who are likely confused and unhappy about leaving their current home. Between packing up their favorite belongings, leaving friendships behind, and acclimating to their new environment, the list of moving stressors is long-winded.
However, parents can circumvent significant complications, like last-minute packing and in-the-way little ones, by drafting a solid game plan that outlines important dates and breaks down large tasks. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to tend to overwhelmed, antsy children on the big day instead of whirling around your home collecting remaining bits and bobs.
If you’re hoping to sidestep tear-filled tantrums during the big move, read on for six tips and tricks that will make moving with little ones a breeze.
Ship the family car to your final destination
Embarking on a cross-country road trip with fussy and energetic little ones is a recipe for disaster. Thankfully, you can dodge endless boredom, messy snacks strewed about, and persistent “are we there yet” inquiries by ditching the open road and opting to fly instead. That said, you’ll need to arrange for your vehicle to arrive at your new destination safe and sound, but it's a lot easier to ship a car than most people think. Car shipping is not that expensive either. There are lots of great car shipping companies to choose from.
For example, Guardian Auto Transport, a Texas car shipping company, will guarantee fast, safe, and reliable auto transport. That way, you won't have to break out the boredom busters and tend to roadside tantrums mid-road trip. Instead, you'll be flying high knowing your new home base is a short plane ride away.
Start early
While it may be tempting to put off daunting packing efforts, delaying the process will end in frantic last-minute scrambles heightened by demanding children. Instead, begin boxing up belongings a month or two in advance, setting your child’s favorite toys aside for entertainment and comfort. That way, you can work your way through your home in more manageable chunks instead of attempting a mad dash a week before you leave.
Pack their favorite belongings behind closed doors
Although proactively packing early in the game will ensure a smooth sailing move, you’ll need to apply caution when stowing your child’s favorite toys and belongings to evade outbursts of resistance. In the coming weeks before the big day, begin tucking away prized possessions while your children are absent or preoccupied, either during the night, school, or a playdate. That way, the temporary disappearance of their well-loved belongings will be gradual and pain-free.
Allow them to help with the packing process
Another way to bypass tearful blowups and confused little ones is by allowing them to help with packing efforts. While fragile items and larger belongings will need an adult touch, your children can collect smaller, more insignificant objects with your supervision. You can even make a game out of the whole ordeal, opening up the door for a fun-filled experience that eases them into the move.
Hire a moving company
While the initial investment of a reputable moving company may seem steep, hiring professionals to stow away and haul your valuable belongings is worth the price, especially with in-the-way little ones. By allowing the experts to take care of the heavy lifting, you can focus your efforts on wrangling and soothing stressed-out children.
Be patient
Regardless of how detailed and thorough your moving arrangements are, relocating with children will likely come with unexpected curveballs. Between tearful goodbyes, lost comfort items, and airport outbursts, you’ll need to remain calm and patient to help your little ones adjust.
Wrapping up
Relocating with children is a challenging task requiring detailed planning and soothing efforts to keep littles calm and collected during the weeks leading up to the big move. Remember to begin months in advance, hire professional help, and keep your kids updated, so they understand what’s happening every step of the way.
