Moving with Children

Summer is peak moving season for families. If you’re planning a move before the start of the next school year, use these tips to ensure a smooth transition for your children.

Moving is inherently emotional and stressful, especially with homes selling quickly and above asking price. Add kids to the equation, and it’s even more challenging. Besides the physical logistics, relocating can be emotionally challenging, particularly for children uprooted from their familiar surroundings.

And we should know. Our expert staff includes spouses and grown children whose personal experience includes a lifetime of moving – due to military permanent change of station (PCS) moves, corporate relocations, government relocations and, most recently, pandemic-era journeys from urban to regional metro areas and vacation hubs.

That’s why we’re sharing these ten tips for easing your children’s transition to a new home:

• Involve your children in the planning process. Take them with you when shopping for a new home and be sure to ask for their input.
• If you are moving to a distant place, help your children learn about their new home. Many cities have visitor websites and other resources devoted to opportunities and information for kids.
• Use dolls, boxes, a wagon and play-acting to give your children a feel for what will happen on moving day.
• Involve children in room arrangements and decor decisions, allowing them to choose paint colors and other decorations.
• Prepare a moving day travel package for each child, containing favorite toys, coloring books, clothing and snacks. Personalize it with each child’s name.
• Survey your new home for loose steps, low overhangs and other possible child safety hazards. Keep a close eye on your children until they become familiar with your new home.
• Take a break with your family as soon as the major unpacking is done. Explore your new neighborhood, dine out, visit local attractions, or have fun with an indoor “box race” for entertainment.
• Ensure you and your spouse or domestic partner spend quality time with your children after the move, listening to what they say about their new school and any friends they have made.
• Follow your children’s progress in school closely and be sure to reach out to the school for assistance if any problems increase or don’t go away with time. Accompanying them to school or the bust stop for the first few days may help to put both of you at ease.
• Seek professional assistance for any abnormalities that linger – particularly physical ones, such as loss of appetite, insomnia, constipation or menstrual disorder. Be sure to mention that your family recently relocated.

Moving can be challenging, for sure. Choosing the right moving partner can help make your family’s transition to a new home easy and stress-free. With a reliable and dependable professional moving company by your side, a move or relocation can be fun for the whole family.

We’re here when you need us.

Contact a member of our client services team for help planning your family’s next move or relocation.