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Stress-Free Family Moving Tips to Make Your Life Easier

Moving is one of the top stressors in life, especially when you’ve got kiddos in the mix. Thankfully, there are some stress-free moving tips you can follow to not only make the moving process easier but also to help reassure the kids.

As reported by MyMove more than 15.9 million people moved during the coronavirus, according to USPS data. Maybe you’re leaving a big city for an expansive backyard, or maybe you’re moving across the country so you can live around the block from your parents. No matter what, even if your children are excited about the move, they might also feel like their lives are being turned upside down as they deal with new changes.

With so many folks uprooting their lives to get a change of scenery in the wake of the pandemic, there’s never been a better time to get a refresher on how to streamline the moving process for yourself and the rest of the family.

There are plenty of ways to make certain aspects of moving a breeze, so you can look back on some aspects of the experience fondly. One of the clearest solutions is to look into the cost of hiring a moving service to make your life easier. We’ve highlighted some more great actionable advice for moving with kids specifically below.

Familiarize Your Kids with the New Neighborhood Before You Move

Drive around the new town and neighborhood multiple times to make your kids aware that it’s a great area. Point out local parks, stores, landmarks and other notable places to help your kid envision their new life there. Setting the stage and getting your kid used to the idea weeks, even months, in advance is the way to go.

Mention the Move in a Positive Context Often Leading Up to the Move

Sometimes it’s easy to talk about how stressed we are with the moving process, and how annoying and overwhelming it is to check things off your to-do list. Remember, your kids are always listening and absorbing these feelings. You don’t have to completely fake being calm, cool, and collected — but be conscious of how you phrase things and try to keep the experience in a positive light as much as possible. After all, they’re likely internalizing whatever you’re expressing.

Celebrate the Moment With a Virtual Farewell Party

Make a fun Zoom party to say goodbye to all your friends and connections in the town you’re leaving, and involve your kid in the planning. When kids remember saying goodbye in a positive way and get a sense of closure, they’re probably more likely to accept the new changes and routines ahead.

Pack Their Favorite Snacks and an “Emergency Fun Kit”

On the actual day of moving, it might seem obvious to bring plenty of snacks and water to avoid dehydration or “hangriness” on the big day. Go the extra mile to neatly pack the kids’ favorite snacks with a personal note or surprise to solidify in their mind how special the day is. Also, have a few silly toys, puzzles, or other fun distractions that you can keep in an “emergency fun kit” — the perfect way to avoid boredom or a tantrum is with some unexpected activities you know will keep your kid busy or entertained.

Additional Tips to Make Your Family’s Move More Convenient

Make a master folder for moving. Keep all documents: contracts, receipts, and other important records in one organized place.

If possible, schedule your move to happen mid-month or mid-week — there will be less traffic and the cost to move furniture might be lower during these times.

Make a little extra cash and strip yourself of clutter by selling excess items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. If you have a lot of pretty high-quality items that you would rather donate than sell, schedule a pickup with WePickUp.org or a similar site. It’ll save you a trip to Good Will or Salvation Army!

Be careful about how you pack! Take care of wrapping fragile or tedious items first so you’re not rushing and leaving room for error (and damage.) Also, avoid leaks or other mishaps by packing items like cleaning chemicals and sharp tools in clear plastic bins rather than cardboard boxes.

Be sure to organize your boxes by necessity and color code them accordingly. Or, give every room a different color packing label. You can download our free packing labels to add to your boxes below.

Moving and packing labels photo