5 Ways Your Kids Can Help When You Move
Whether this is your first time moving or you’re already an expert, it may seem like a challenge to find safe ways to engage your child in the move. Getting a new home is often a stressful time for parents and children alike. It’s a time of great change and has many aspects that your young child may not be able to participate in safely. Some parents simply take them to a friend or family member’s house during the move, but that’s not always an option. That’s why it’s crucial to think of the ways that your kids can stay engaged and help out during the move. This article provides five excellent suggestions to do just that.
Let The Kids Tour the New House
Even if your child is very young, it is helpful to let them explore your new home before the move. Letting them look at their new residence will help acclimate them to the environment and make the transition to living there permanently easier. If you are going far away, this may not be possible. That’s okay too. If that’s the case, try showing them pictures or videos of your new home.
Let The Kids Explore the Neighborhood
Parents often move to give their children better opportunities. These opportunities may include a new school district or more parks and green space. Another great way to get your kids involved and excited is to let them explore the area surrounding your new residence before the move. As a parent, this is a time for you to engage with the community you’re about to join.
Ask Children to Collect Boxes
Everyone knows that an essential part of moving homes is getting moving boxes and lots of duct tape. There’s no need to spend money on expensive boxes. Many local warehouses may have some that they burn and do not need. It may also be a case that a neighbor or family friend has a large supply of boxes. Collecting boxes is a great way for young kids to contribute to the move.
Let The Kids Pack a Box of Their Things
Even if your child is very young, it’s never a bad idea to communicate with them. This move is a massive life change, and it may help them engage with the move by letting them pack up their things. This transition isn’t easy, and it can be overwhelming. Packing can be a good way for them to process their emotions and learn a little about responsibility. While they may not be able to pack their larger things on their own, help them back up their favorite toys, games, and books for them to take with them and unpack at the new house.
Let Children Help Sort Things
Take this time to teach your children about organizing. You can walk them through sorting things into the typical piles of keep, donate, or throw away. Even just letting them sort through things for one room could be a great bonding experience.
If you’ve got kids, it may be difficult to do all of the packing, transporting, unloading, and unpacking yourself. Your kids may be too young to actively help or for you to leave unsupervised. On the day of the move, they could use their excitement to run around and get in the way.
Instead of doing it all yourself, you may want to work with professional movers. Moving companies will take over as much of the move as you need. Maybe you’ve got all your belongings packed up and you just need your furniture and boxes moved. Or maybe you haven’t even had time to pack, and you need someone to take care of that for you. No matter what your needs are or how far you’re going, working with a moving company can make the process easier for the whole family.
Whether you’re going to another country or the next suburb over, this is still a time of great change for your family. Hopefully, you can use these child-safe ways to keep your kids engaged with the move.
By Anita Ginsburg
Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
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