Moving Tips and Tricks for a Successful Move with Children

Whether you are planning a move down the street or a move across the country, these simple & easy moving tips and tricks for a successful move with children should help you have a great move! Because moving can be stressful. Let’s make it a bit easier one tip and trick at a time.

Combined my husband and I have moved a whopping total of 24 times. We have learned a few key tips over the years to help make these moves as simple and easy as possible. Moving with children can be super challenging. However, it can also be oh so much fun. Think of the neat ways you can design your new space, the new neighbors you will meet, and the new adventure you get to go on.

Different stages of moving:

• Decluttering
• Packing
• Cleaning
• Moving (stuff and address)
• Unpacking

These moving tips and tricks will touch on the decluttering, packing, and moving stage of the process. Need help with cleaning? Check out this FREE Whole House Cleaning Printable. Crave more guidance with how to unpack from a move go HERE.

Moving Tips and Tricks for a successful move with children:

Talk about the move

My first tip would be to talk with your children about the move. No matter what age, a move is a big life change. Talk about what will be happening. I suggest you start this conversation before you start packing and decluttering.

I borrowed a few moving-themed picture books from our local library. We also watched a few television programs about moving.

• Moving Day By Jo S. Kittinger
• The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by: Stan & Jan Berenstain
• Daniel Tiger “New Neighborhood” and “Family Trip” episodes

Brainstorm the positives

The next tip is to brainstorm with your children what you are most excited about for your new home. Find all of the good things that will come out of this move. Focusing on the positive can help ease fears and anxiety that may occur.

Pack like you are going on vacation

As you get closer to the move date, pack a few day’s worth of clothes for your children and yourself. Even if your move only a few miles away. Stuff is bound to be misplaced. Heck, once I found our oven mitts packed in with our shoes!

You will be tired from the move. Having the essentials already packed and with you will help. I like to pack about five day’s worth of clothing, as well as bedding, and a toiletries bag.

Load Children’s Stuff Last

Whatever is loaded last on the truck, will be unloaded first. Setting up your children’s bedroom first thing will help them feel comfortable in your new home right away. Pack up their stuff last so that way you can unpack them first.

Stick to routines

The final moving tip and trick for children specifically is to stick to your children’s routine as much as possible. Routines and schedules are bound to be thrown off at some point during the move.

However, try your best to stick to their routines. Children like structure and predictability in their day. A move will throw a wrench into that. Thus, as much as possible try and stick to their usual routine.

Brain Dump

There are a lot of moving parts when you are moving house. Quickly write down everything you need to do. This helps you declutter your brain. Once that is done, you can organize your thoughts into a more logical, organized matter.

After that first brain dump, I will have an ongoing to-do list on my phone. So any time I think of something, I could get it out of my head and written down.

Start decluttering right away

Get decluttering. You don’t want to pack up and bring stuff to your new home that you haven’t used in a while or you no longer like anymore. Resist the urge of, well I might one day get into this hobby.

If you haven’t done so already, chances are fairly high that you won’t get into that hobby in your new home. Declutter what-if or extra stuff is always a good tip for a successful move.

Where do I start when decluttering?

Start small; 5-minute declutter. Pick a small area in your home where you can feel accomplished right away. Don’t start in that one closet that is overflowing that gives you the sweats every time you think about it. Start in a small draw in the kitchen or under the bathroom sink. Pick a place that you know there is stuff you will find relatively easy to let go of.

I always recommend that you start with your stuff first. Your children might be having a hard time with this move. Start with your stuff first before going into their stuff. This is especially important if you have older children or teenagers.

Start early

You will get interrupted. I repeat you will be totally interrupted. It is inevitable. Embrace this possibility and start decluttering, packing, and cleaning early.

If you are lucky and your children still nap, then use that time. But start packing up for your move as early as possible. The earlier the better.

I started packing, the day after I knew we were moving. Sounds extreme, but was worth it to me for peace of mind.

How do you make moving less stressful for kids?

Start early. If that is the only tip or trick you can use. It will save your sanity later.

Use a Staging Area

This trick that really has helped me with this move was to have a staging area for the already packed up boxes. I used the garage for packing and placing boxes. This allowed the space inside the home to remain clutter-free.

Have children elsewhere on the day of the move

If able, send your children elsewhere during the bulk of the move. Go to a play date, head to the park, spend them off at a friend’s house. I know this isn’t always possible, but if able have them go somewhere else for the day or night.

For us, my husband and children stayed at a family member’s house during the duration of the move. This eliminated so much stress for me and was super helpful.

How do you make moving fun for kid?

Keep the moving experience as positive as possible. Children can pick up when you are feeling stressed. When in doubt, dance it out! Listen to great music and dance while you pack or clean.

Ask for help

Have family come over and help when able. We had my mom stay with us a few days before the move and the day of the actual move. She was able to take the children to the park while we finished up.

Also, if it’s in the budget consider hiring a moving company. This was the first time we used a moving company. We had such a great experience. All other moves prior to this move were either by u-haul or using our vehicles. For us, this splurge was worth every single dollar.

Create a “Welcome Home Box”

Pack a “welcome home box” with all of the basic essentials you will need the first few hours after a move. There is nothing worse than moving into a new home and you need to use the restroom, but are lacking in toilet paper. I’ve been there done that. But hey it’s always a good way to meet your next-door neighbors. “We are moving in. may we have some toilet paper please?”

Pack items like toilet paper, soap, wipes, instant coffee, and a few toys for your kids to have right away. Anything that will make your first few hours in your new home easier.

Color-Code the Boxes

The final moving trick is to use color-coded labels for labeling boxes. This was my first time doing this trick, and it was saved me! It made packing so much easier and quicker.

But note, keep the stickers away from your sticker-loving toddler. Otherwise, you will have a big mess of stickers and eventually end up tossing them in a box and hope for the best.

Moving Tips and Tricks Conclusion:

Moving is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a family. Focusing on the positives will help make your move with children so much easier.

Plus you have the added benefit of being able to declutter your possessions and only keep what you absolutely love. Focus on the positives. Your children and you are sure to have a successful move.

What are some of your favorite moving tips and tricks?

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