Once you’ve made the final decision to move and have a new home waiting for you and all your belongings, the tough part begins, especially when you moving with children. Moving with children can be difficult for numerous reasons, regardless of whether you are simply moving across town or out of state.

Children and teenagers are oftentimes less than thrilled to have to leave the comfort of their neighborhood, school, and most importantly friends. No matter how hard you try and convince them that they will make new friends and love their next school, they don’t always buy it. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help ease the transition for your children.

Perhaps most importantly, your attitude about moving and your willingness to discuss how your kids are feeling about the move will go a long way in influencing their feelings. Here are a few tips to help you make the move as smooth and drama-free as possible, for both you and your kids:

1. Talk to them about the move. Whether you need to call a ‘family meeting’ or decide to sit down and chat with your kids about the move individually, it is important to keep communication lines open. Make sure your kids are aware of why you are moving (for a promotion, to a larger home, to be closer to family, etc) and explain why it is important everyone is on board. It may also help to share with them any experiences you had moving as a kid to ease their mind.
2. Get their opinion. If possible, involve your children in the various aspects of the move and in the selection process of the new home. This is particularly important if your kids are older. If you’ve narrowed down your options to two or three homes, get your kids’ opinion and make them as much of the process as possible.
3. Involve them in packing and going through their belongings. Moving is always a good time to purge and get rid of items you no longer want or use. Have your kids help you go through the house, room by room, and get their intake and what should stay and what should go.
4. Have them help you with a garage/moving sale. Once you’ve gone through all your belongings in the house, have your kids help you organize a moving sale. They can help you sort through everything, create price stickers, and on the actual day of the sale. It may also be a good idea to let them know what the money you make with the sale will go towards, such as something the whole family can enjoy.
5. Make room plans. A great way to get your kids excited about the new house is to make room plans. This doesn’t have to be limited to just their rooms, but you can also include them in how other rooms in the house will be decorated and arranged. For their own rooms, give them some control on the color scheme, furniture, and layout.

Moving with children doesn’t have to be stressful and difficult. If done right, the experience can be a fun and enjoyable one that the whole family is involved in. Contact us today for an easy move.