You’ve found your dream home and you can’t wait for your family to settle in and begin making memories. Before that can happen, though, all the logistics of your move must fall into place. While moving is always a challenge, adding children into the equation can make it even more daunting. Read on to learn how to successfully navigate the necessary steps of the relocation process, even with your little ones underfoot.
Start Packing Sooner Rather than Later
While it may not be possible to box up all your kids’ toys and other belongings weeks before moving day, you can absolutely begin packing your rarely used items, toys included. Things like books, off-season clothing and decorative items are also great places to start. Kitchens usually take the longest to pack, so give yourself a head start by packing the dishes and kitchen appliances you use infrequently.
Keep Safety in Mind
When you’re packing, it’s easy to accidentally leave dangerous materials like cleaning products, scissors, bubble wrap or sharp packing tape dispensers within reach of little hands. Be extra vigilant against potential dangers during the packing process.
Get Your Kids Involved
Your little movers will be curious about the packing process, so why not involve them? They can help with packing non-breakable items like blankets, pillows and plush toys, or you can put them to work adding color-coded stickers to your finished boxes.
Plan Time When Your Kids are NOT Involved
There are some things that you simply can’t pack with children around. Delicate items, kitchen knives, and cleaning or gardening supplies containing chemicals come to mind. Plan to stay up late for a night or two and pack these items after kiddo bedtime. This is also a great time to pack up the toys and games they rarely use (and probably won’t miss).
Save the Kid Stuff for Last
Pack up toys, books and games the kids use daily as your very last step. This keeps things feeling a bit more normal for them, even as they’re surrounded by packing chaos. You’ll likely also save yourself a tantrum or two.
Throw Out Toys Under Cover of Darkness
There’s no sense in packing up broken toys or those the kids have outgrown and never use, so purge them while you can. Just be sure to do it once they’re asleep so you aren’t caught in the act.
Set Aside Essentials
Pack an overnight bag for each member of the family, kids included. It should contain all the things you don’t want to go searching for on your first night or first morning in your new place. A few changes of clothes, favorite toys or books, toothbrushes and other toiletries and any needed medications should all be included.
Family moves can be exciting because they represent new beginnings together, but the logistics of packing with children can be quite the challenge. Use the tips above to help you manage the chaos, and keep your eye on the end-goal of making new family memories in your dream home.
Image via Unsplash/HiveBoxx
