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Whether you’re getting ready to move your family to a new home a few miles away or a new place across the country, it can be a stressful time for everyone.
Here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we know people are moving for different reasons, but no matter the situation, it can come with mixed emotions – especially for children. With more than 10 million moves under our belt and close to 40 years of experience, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK wanted to provide some tips from our experts on how to have a smooth move with kids.
Multi-unit franchisee Samantha Miller says it’s good to get kids actively involved in the moving process to make them feel more included and excited about the upcoming change.
“Give them some boxes to pack up their toys or clothes and put together a moving day kit filled with their favorite toys, snacks, and activities to keep them happy and occupied as you transition into your new home,” Miller said.
Jan Colbert, a customer service manager in Hagerstown, Maryland also emphasized the importance of including children on moving day as it can be a big adjustment for them.
“If younger children are present, have the movers introduce themselves to them, if time permits show them the outside of the big moving truck,” Colbert said. “The children can also show the movers their room and what needs to be moved during the walk-through. Once the walk-through is completed, we would ask that the children are in another part of the house and out of the way. We don’t want any accidents or damage.”
While preparing for a move can be exciting, there is a lot that needs to get done, which is why you want to prepare your children before it happens. Below are some ideas on how to get your child ready before the move!
- Host a family meeting to discuss the move with your children and what it will entail. Get them excited for the new adventure and tell them about the new places they will get to explore and try to plan a fun family day after you’re settled into your new home. This way, the whole family can explore the new town together and make new memories!
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK always encourages people to create a moving checklist to prepare for moving day, the day of the move, and after the move. Once you make a solid checklist, go through it with your children so they have a good idea of how the next month, or a few weeks, will go. Keeping your children involved and letting them know about this checklist will help them understand what to expect.
- A fun thing to do to keep the moving topic relevant is to tell them how they can decorate their new room. Include them when it comes to picking a new paint color or letting them pick out a new accessory or toy for their room.
When moving day comes along there is a lot going on, but there are many ways to make your children feel calm and included.
- If you hire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, it’s a great idea to introduce your kids to the movers! Our movers love meeting new people and making moving day less stressful for the whole family.
- Many children just want to be included as much as possible on moving day, so creating little tasks for them like last-minute cleaning after the movers complete a room is a good balance to keep them safe, but also apart of the process.
- As the movers are hard at work the kids may be looking for something fun to do. Have a small box or bag filled with a few of their favorite toys, books and coloring books. If you’re looking for some new coloring pages you can download and print TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s coloring book and activity sheet.
Moving is no easy task, and even when you move into your new home, the next chapter of unpacking and getting settled begins. Here are some more tips for after the move from the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK experts.
- Unpacking can take some time, so if you have been unpacking for a while, remember to take breaks so the whole family can get out and explore the new neighborhood. Finding a nearby park, restaurant, or hiking trail could be a good start and a great way to make new family memories!
- Once you are settled, go outside and meet your new neighbors. Even better if the neighbors have kids because a new friendship can evolve!
- If you moved further away from your original home, there is a good chance your child will be starting a new school. It’s a good idea to get them familiar with the school and remind them how much fun they will have. This is also a good time to see if there are extracurricular activities that they can join to help them feel comfortable and make new friends.
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