Moving house isn’t something people usually look forward to very much, especially when kids are involved. Between all the packing, cleaning, and organising, it can feel like a never-ending to-do list. But here’s something to think about… what if it didn’t have to be quite so overwhelming? What if, instead, it could actually become a bit of an adventure? Of course, the hard parts are still going to exist, but there are ways to make the process easier on everyone, especially the little ones, and with that in mind, keep reading to find out more. 

Photo by cottonbro studio

Start With The Bigger Picture

For kids, change can feel pretty huge – think about it from their perspective; they might be leaving the only bedroom they’ve ever known, or saying goodbye to friends next door, and that’s bound to be upsetting and confusing. So it’s always going to help to start with a gentle conversation about what’s coming, and rather than just telling them you’re moving, explain what it means, and let them know why it’s such a good thing for your family. 

You can talk about the new place, what it might be like, all the things they’ll get to do there, and so on. Plus, you can make sure they know they can still see their old friends and visit their old neighbourhood (assuming you’re going to be fairly nearby, of course). The point is that if you can build a bit of excitement and curiosity around it all, the whole thing is going to feel a lot less scary. And as you make plans, reviewing things like residential lease agreements together can help older kids feel included and understand the practical side of the move, too. 
 

Get Them Involved

Children don’t always have much control about what’s going on around them, especially when it comes to big family decisions, so it’s no wonder they can be a bit upset or all over the place when things are happening and they can’t do anything about it. So it can be helpful to involve them in the process wherever possible, even in really small ways, because that will give them a bit of ownership over it, and help them feel a lot calmer. 

One thing they can do is to pack up their own room (or help if they’re younger), and you can also ask for their ideas about what should go in the new space. It’s excellent to give them a job that’s just theirs, and it can be something simple but important enough that they feel like they’re contributing and making a positive difference. Even if it slows things down a bit – which it might – having them feel included can make a big difference to how they handle the change. 

Make Time To Say Goodbye

It might sound small, but giving everyone a chance to properly say goodbye to your current home is definitely worth it. Whether it’s walking through the empty rooms together, sharing memories over dinner, or just snapping a few family photographs out the front of the house, it’s a lovely way of honouring what you’re leaving behind. 

Kids in particular might really benefit from this kind of closure because it’s a way to help them understand that it’s okay to feel sad about leaving, even if they’re excited for what’s next. And if you’re not sad about leaving for any reason (and as adults, it could be that leaving is a very positive thing, especially if the old property is too expensive or there are problems with it that kids might not pick up on), don’t brush aside your kid’s feeling or tell them they shouldn’t be sad. Not everyone is going to feel the same, but that doesn’t mean their feelings aren’t valid. 

Explore What’s Ahead

If you’re moving somewhere nearby, see if you can visit the area before the big day, and let the kids check out the local park, wander the streets, spot the nearest place to get ice cream and treats… and if a visit isn’t possible, do a bit of online exploring together – you should be able to find pictures of the area, websites of things to do, or perhaps even a street view of your new road. Basically anything that makes the unknown feel a little bit more familiar is a good thing. 

But through all this, it’s wise to try to stick to routines as much as possible. It’s no secret that routines do tend to go out the window when you’re moving, but if you can hold onto a few important ones, it could really help. We’re talking about things like bedtime stories, favourite snacks, or whatever it is you usually do on a Friday evening together. It’s these small bits of normality that can help kids (and adults, by the way) feel a lot more settled even if everything else is up in the air. 

Plan For Moving Day

The truth is that moving day is often pretty messy – there are boxes everywhere, people in and out, and no one really knows what’s happening or where they’re meant to be. But with some planning, it doesn’t have to be as bad as all that, and it can even become something quite positive. 

The first thing to do is to set aside a small bag or box of essentials for the kids – favourite toys, favourite snacks, a tablet, a colouring book, plenty of water, and so on. Make sure you keep it close by because it’s going to help when the little ones get bored and tired and need something to do – ideally something familiar. 

And if you’re using moving companies, a friendly, professional team can really do a lot to help ease some of the pressure – they’ve seen every type of move under the sun, and they can often keep things running a little more smoothly than if you tried to do things by yourself. 

Celebrate The New Start

It’s tempting to dive straight into unpacking the moment you arrive, but don’t forget to take a minute to celebrate the move and what you’ve achieved. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate – something from the local takeaway, playing a familiar playlist while you set up the kids’ bedrooms, or just a fun picnic in the living room can be enough to say you’ve arrived. Remember, that first night sets the tone for the years to come, so it’s best to make it a good one.