Moving tips
How To Make Moving With Kids Less Stressful
By TLC Moving & Storage · Published 15 February 2018
Moving is stressful for kids and parents alike. Turn it into something fun: packing games and rewards, boxes they decorate, fun on the road, a night of indoor camping, and their own room to set up.
Why a move is hard on kids
But you also need to worry about your kids during this big transition. For kids, all the changes that come with moving can be scary. The change in homes, neighbourhoods, schools, and friends can make children of all ages anxious. So it’s important to keep your kids in mind throughout the moving process, from choosing a new home to settling in to your new place.
One way to make moving less stressful for the whole family is by making it fun. Yes, it is possible to make moving fun.
What a kid-friendly move looks like
A kid-friendly move has three parts: packing they can join in, with songs, rewards and boxes to decorate; a car ride with a playlist they help make and road games; and unpacking that comes with a night of indoor camping and a room they set up themselves.
Packing Fun…
No one enjoys packing, but you can encourage your kids to help you pack with some fun packing activities. These include:
Packing Songs
Sing funny songs with the family to make for light-hearted packing fun. You can make up your own songs, or sing classic songs like “Whistle While You Work” and “Happy Working Song.”
Incentives for Packing
Treat your kids for helping you out. This could be choosing a movie to watch after a day of packing, or giving them their favourite treats—whatever works to get them packing.
Decorate/Label Boxes
For young children, have them decorate the moving boxes with stickers and markers. Older kids can label the boxes and tape them closed for you.
Play with Boxes
Another way to keep kids busy during packing is to set aside some moving boxes for them to play with. Kids can be imaginative with boxes, building forts and still having fun even if their toys are packed. While packing, hide treasure or puzzle pieces in boxes to make for a fun surprise and incentive when it comes time to unpack.
…Fun On the Road…
No matter how long or short your drive is to your new home, keep everyone’s spirits up during the car ride. Make a playlist of music that you and your kids will enjoy in the car. If your kids are older, ask them to make the playlist for you. Also, play fun road games to pass the time such as:
I Spy
20 Questions
I’m Going on a Picnic
Tic-Tac-Toe
Hangman, and
The License Plate Game
…And Fun Unpacking
Once you’ve arrived at your new home, the fun doesn’t have to stop.
Indoor Camping
Instead of rushing to set up the bedrooms, pitch a tent in your living room and have a fun night of camping with the kids indoors.
Leave Kids in Charge of Their Own Rooms
For young kids, draw out a floor plan with them for how they want to set up their rooms. If your kids are old enough to unpack on their own, leave them to it. Either way, they will gain a sense of pride and ownership in their new rooms.
If you’ve left hidden treasures or puzzle pieces in boxes, have fun watching your kids unpack quickly as they race to find the hidden surprises. Moving in Ottawa or anywhere else can be less stressful for the whole family when you make it fun.
Questions about moving with TLC
How do I get kids to help with packing?
No one enjoys packing, but you can encourage your kids to help you pack with some fun packing activities. These include: Packing songs; incentives for packing; decorate/Label boxes; play with boxes.
How do I keep kids happy on moving day?
No matter how long or short your drive is to your new home, keep everyone’s spirits up during the car ride. Make a playlist of music that you and your kids will enjoy in the car.
How do I help kids settle into a new home?
Instead of rushing to set up the bedrooms, pitch a tent in your living room and have a fun night of camping with the kids indoors.
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