Moving With Kids

Moving can be stressful – especially when you have a family to factor into the equation. From school transfers to emotional transitions, there are a lot of things to consider when moving with kids. Read on for the keys to making your and your family’s move as smooth as possible.

Be communicative

Especially for a child who’s never moved before, the idea of waking up in a new home, city, or even state can be unsettling and confusing. Tell your kids about the move as soon as you can so they have time to adjust to the idea, and try to explain the details of the move as thoroughly as possible, so there are no surprises. Explain where you’re going and why, including as many details as is age appropriate for your child. While kids can be scared to leave behind the school, neighborhood, and home they know, try focusing on what they’ll gain from the move: a new house, a new school, and new friends! The more your children understand the move, the less stressed and more cooperative they’ll tend to be.

Involve them

Involving your kids gets them excited for and invested in the move and helps them come to terms with the transition and the reality of the changes taking place. If they’re old enough, give them easy tasks to help out – like labeling boxes or packing up something easy like books. We also highly recommend letting kids design their new rooms and bringing this up early as a selling point of the move. The excitement of redecorating their new space (and maybe picking out a new poster or bedspread) often gets kids through the tough parts of the transition. Encourage them to draw up how they’ll design their new room before you get moved in, and once you get there, help them arrange it so it feels like home.

Pick your battles

Moving’s not easy for everyone, so if your children are crankier, moodier, or clingier than usual, try to take it all with a grain of salt. This is all temporary – in a few months, you’ll be settled into your new home, and the stresses of moving will be a thing of the past, so practice patience if the kids are being a little more difficult than usual. If they’re really having a tough time with the transition and preparations, consider packing while they’re sleeping, at school, or at a friend’s house. But make sure you…

Don’t pack the essentials

During a tumultuous time, your kids will likely need the comfort of their favorite toys, stuffed animals, or blankies. Designate a backpack or duffle bag for the things you know you should keep on hand, just in case. Include their comfort items, books, and easy activities to keep them occupied during packing or the night before moving day when everything else is in boxes. Also make sure to keep any important emergency items, like medications, in an easy-to-access spot.

Do your research

To make the move feel real and help everyone feel prepared once the big day comes, learn about and get involved in your new community as early as possible. Research which schools your children will be attending, and figure out if they have any clubs or extracurricular activities your kids might be interested in joining. Take a weekend trip to your new town or neighborhood to familiarize the kids with the area, and find local organizations you can all get involved in. Check out nonprofit organizations to volunteer at, community sports teams the kids can join, or Boy and Girl Scout troops in the area. Creating a sense of community can make a huge difference in the transition from “strange new place” to “home.”

While moving with kids can certainly be challenging, Vermont Real Estate Company agents are here to help you and your family through each and every step of the transition. From showings to new community integration, our friendly and knowledgeable agents can lend the helping hand you need to make your new house a home. Connect with us today!