Involving kids in the moving process

Posted on 29/08/2024

Moving to a new home can be a major life event for kids, full of excitement as well as worry. It can be particularly difficult on young children who don't have the same level of understanding and maturity as older kids when it comes to moving. That said, involving kids in the moving process can be a great way to explain what's happening and ensure that everyone is ready for the transition.

If you're planning on moving homes soon, here are some tips for involving kids in the process so that your entire family is prepared for the move.

Start Early

Starting early is key when it comes to getting your whole family ready. When a move is looming, provide children with plenty of advance notice so that they have time to digest the news and deal with their emotions. Explain why you are making the move and provide them with as much detail as possible so they know what to expect.

Pack Together

Instead of packing away all of your belongings without your child's involvement, involve them in the process by giving them tasks to help them feel more involved and motivated. Some tasks you could assign include picking items from different rooms which they would like to keep or donate, sorting through toys or clothes or labelling boxes. This will also make it easier for them to settle into their new home quickly since their most favourite items will already be unpacked when they arrive.

Create a Scrapbook

A great way to get kids involved is by having them create a scrapbook or memory book of their current home - this could include photos of their room, drawings of their friends and favourite places, tickets from outings - anything which captures their memories of the old house. Not only will this give them something fun and creative to do but it will also serve as a reminder that while things may change, good memories always last forever.

Visit Your New Home

If it's possible, try planning an outing to explore around your new neighbourhood before actually moving in. This gives you and your child(ren) a chance to become familiar with your surroundings - perhaps visit nearby parks or amenities, find out where the closest shops are located, etc - and builds excitement over what will one day become 'home.'

Look Forward To It Once you begin packing up your belongings, encourage your child(ren) to look forward to all new things that come with moving such as meeting new people and exploring a new school district. Find out if there are clubs or sports teams in the area which might interest them or research fun activities available so they can start building anticipation about what awaits them in their new home town.


Organize A Farewell Party A great way for kids to cope with leaving behind friends and say goodbye is by organizing a farewell party prior to moving day (if possible). Invite all of their closest friends over for some pizza and popcorn; even if only half show up this could still give everyone chance to spend quality time together before saying goodbye.

Having Kids Help With Unpacking As soon as you arrive at your new home try having each family member take responsibility for unpacking boxes from his/her own room first which not only reduces overall stress but also boosts morale. Ask your kid(ren) to help set up furniture and hang artwork on walls; by providing personal touches throughout the new space it will start feeling like home much faster.

Make Sure There's Time To Bond Once you have successfully moved into your new place make sure there's enough 'down-time' scheduled together where family members can simply relax or hang out without any other pressure or distractions; this could include movie nights or game nights at home or even visiting local food places for dinner (or lunch). This helps create strong emotional bonds between family members which sets them up better for future transitions such as starting school in their new area.

Keep Communication Open Throughout the entire process try having open communication sessions with each child so that issues or concerns can be addressed efficiently and effectively; children should feel heard during times like these in order for them understand better why changes are being made. Furthermore, taking regular time off from contact work/schedule each week can help relieve stress levels somewhat amongst all family members during periods of transition.

Moving house with kids can bring additional challenges however by following these tips you can ensure that everyone is equipped enough emotionally for the transition at hand!