Moving internationally is always stressful. When you add children into that equation, the stress just gets worse. Not only do you have to take care of everything having to deal with the move, but you also have to take care of them. So if you need some moving day tips and tricks for relocating with kids, you’re in the right place.
Relocating to a New House Could Be Difficult for a Child
A tricky part of relocating with kids is that no matter how much you try to explain to them what’s about to happen, they can never be fully prepared for the move. It doesn’t matter how old they are, they will probably struggle with the fact that they will be forced to change their entire surroundings. Everything from their favorite ice cream place, to their school or kindergarten, will be completely different.
Your job as a parent is to try to prepare them for the move as much as possible. Talk to them about it in a way that can help them comprehend what’s going on. Depending on their age, if they’re old enough you can include them in the planning process. Create simple to-do lists together, and let them be a part of the whole operation. Children have a way of pleasantly surprising you when it comes to serious matters such as moving across the world.
Moving Overseas Can Leave Traumatic Consequences On a Child if Not Done Right
Moving abroad can have major consequences on adults since it is in the third place of the biggest stressors people can face in life. Right after the death of a loved one and divorce. So imagine how much of an influence it can have on a young mind. Studies have shown that relocating at a young age can be tied to not being able to form long-term relationships as an adult, and could even lead to a higher chance of attempting suicide.
So don’t think you can just move a child in the middle of the night into a new home without them noticing. You might think they will forget about their old place, but they won’t. You have to let children process this big change healthily, communicate with them, don’t just hope they won’t remember it. If you think it’s necessary, a children’s psychiatrist could also help. If you’re not sure whether your child needs one, take a look at Today’s Parent.
Moving to a Smaller House
If you’re downsizing and moving to a smaller home due to financial troubles and a low budget, you should know your child will notice it. The first thing you should know when it comes to how to start the task of moving from a large home to a smaller one is that you need to explain it to the child. A simple way of doing this while giving it a positive spin is to list the pros and cons of moving to a smaller home and focus on the pros. For example, tell them that while they may not have a swing in the backyard anymore, you will all be closer together as a family and spend more time together.
Moving Day Tips and Tricks for People With Kids
People think that the hardest part of any move is over once they hire an international moving company. They think that the day of the move is easy, but they are wrong. So, why is moving day so stressful? There are many questions you need answers to. What should I do the day of the move? How do I stay calm on moving days? But your worry shouldn’t be focused on how you will stay calm that day, it should be how you will get your kids to stay calm. Take a look at our helpful tips for moving with kids.
Make Sure That Children Are Safe and Protected
The first of many tips for moving day – get a nanny. It will truly make your life easier and your move efficient. There will be movers running through your house the entire time. The doors won’t be locked, the supplies movers use will be everywhere, and you will be busy with the move and everything else. It will be chaos that doesn’t really scream child safety. So be sure your children are taken care of and safe.
The best option would be to hire your usual babysitter to help. It would make the children feel comfortable. Having a familiar face among all those different people going in and out of your place will make the day go by easier. If you have to hire a new nanny, think about who it’s going to be. This day can cause a lot of relocation stress for the children, so it’s important to get someone trustworthy. If you’ve spent all that time choosing a relocation company, you can afford a few minutes to pick the right babysitter.
Prepare Them for Movers
Hiring movers from an overseas moving company might seem pretty straightforward, but it could scare your kids. You know you hired a reliable company to take care of your family, but they will just see a bunch of strangers walking in and out of their house and taking away their stuff. That can be traumatizing for a kid, so have a conversation with them so they can prepare for movers and explain to them that those people are trying to help.
Have Their Favorite Items at Reach
Depending on the age of your children, disaster may or may not strike at any second, and usually it just so happens to be the worst possible moment. Just imagine the horror of your stressed-out child asking for their favorite toy and you realizing the movers have it in their truck that left the driveway twenty minutes ago. Be prepared for any worst-case scenario that may occur.
You know your child best, think about the favorite items they reach for daily. One of the best tips for moving day is to have all their favorite stuff packed in one convenient place. That can be a box, a bag, a backpack that they will carry, or anything that works for you and that can store the essentials at arm’s reach. If you’ve hired packing services, check this chore off your relocation checklist a couple of days in advance, or you will regret it. Their emergency stash should include relocating essentials like:
- Their favorite toy,
- A favorite snack,
- Water and refreshments,
- Diapers (depending on how old the child is),
- A blanket and pillows (if they can sleep off the majority of the trip, great news for you),
- Any medicine or other necessities.
Have Entertainment Ready for the Road Trip
Kids are the most wonderful thing that can happen to a person, but they are also a hassle to travel with. So ask yourself – how can I make moving day easier? If you want to live overseas, the biggest shipping overseas obstacle you will have to face isn’t deciding on which overseas shipping company to hire. It will be trying to figure out how flying with toddlers works. Kids usually aren’t great fans of flying, so your best bet is to do some daredevil timing and have your kid sleep through the flight.
The best piece of move-in day tips we can give you is to keep your child entertained throughout the whole trip. There are so many ways you can do this. You can play car games, get them a sketchpad and some crayons, or give them a video game to play on your phone. Possibilities are endless, just try anything that makes them happy. An absolute crowd-pleaser is singing car songs. If you could use a few car song ideas, take a look at this video:
Put on a Positive Spin When Showing the House
Children look up to you, so if you’re excited and happy about the move, they will be as well. When touring the place for the first time, show them everything. Explain to them in detail how everything will look once you unpack. Tell them about all the things you know they will love. Feel free to exaggerate to give a positive impression. Get them to feel as if the whole reason to move was the treehouse you will build for them in the backyard.
Baby-Proof Your New Home
One of the first things to do after relocating is to baby-proof the place if necessary. It should be number one on your relocating abroad checklist if you’re relocating with a child. Child safety comes first. Since you’re relocating large items and have boxes that pack knives lying around everywhere, it might be a good idea to have a separate, kids-only zone that won’t be mixed in with the unboxing process.
Pack Everything Neatly and Timely
Packing might not seem like an important thing to care about when dealing with kids and a move, but proper packing can create a big difference in the entire process.
Kids can be pretty picky at all the wrong times, so knowing exactly where everything is packed is a lifesaver. That’s why it’s important to label boxes clearly and neatly.
One of the best universal relocation hacks that also applies to relocating with children is to declutter and get rid of things you no longer use. Figure out what to keep, pack, and what to toss, sell, or donate. And while decluttering is great, it could also make your life hell if you throw away their favorite toys. So be extra careful when packing your kids’ possessions.
Once you arrive at your home, the best thing to do would be to unpack the kids’ boxes first so you can fill their rooms with their stuff to make them feel more at home. They could also throw a temper tantrum over a toy that’s already in the truck, so the smartest thing would be to pack the kids’ boxes last on the truck, so they would be easily accessible.
Allow Your Children to Say Goodbye Properly
Relocating to a new home, changing surroundings, and all of your friends isn’t easy for anyone, especially children. They are more sensitive than you might think. So give them an opportunity to say goodbye to their friends properly. Throw them a farewell party. If you want to make it really memorable, have a crazy-themed party everyone will love and remember years after. Encourage your child to keep in touch with friends. Having to dress up in a costume for the party will be one of the rare benefits of relocating for them and a way to process their emotions in a healthy way so they can embrace the new house.
