For most people, the first time moving out of your parent’s house is a rite…
Moving is a stressful time for your entire family, but especially for young children. Although we may not always think about them first, children often have a difficult time adjusting to the changes of moving homes. There are many factors that contribute to the discomfort of a move, such as leaving friends behind, as well as familiar rooms and routines.
Some kids even have a hard time understanding the concept of packing. Children tend to think that once their toys and belongings are packed away, they will never see them again. We have to make sure they understand that moving requires temporary packing and that they will be happy in your new home. Here are some tips to make packing for your kid’s room easier for both you and them.
Keep Your Kids in the Loop
Young children may not think rationally like adults, but if you keep them in the loop throughout the moving process, they will have an easier time come moving day. Sit down and talk to your child about moving. Don’t go into the nitty gritty details, just simply tell them that you’re moving, and you will need to pack some things away for a little while. Paint a positive image of your new house and neighborhood, and highlight the advantages of moving into your new house.
Handle Sharp Objects Yourself
This tip may seem like an obvious responsibility, but packing can become mind-numbing at best. It’s easy to leave out scissors and box cutters lying around while you pack your kid’s room. Children can easily pick up a sharp object while you have your back turned, so make sure all scissors and other tools are kept away from their reach.
Make an Essentials Box for Kids
This is a basic tip for packing any part of your house, but always remember that you are making a special essentials box when you pack your kid’s room. If they have a favorite toy or storybook they like to read every day, leave it out and pack it last. You may even want to bring it in the car with them. Movies and video games make good entertainment during the moving process, so keep those out and leave them for last. Once you’re at your new house, you can quickly set up a TV with a movie or video games to entertain them while you unpack the basics.
Turn Packing Into a Game
Your kid should be fully involved in the packing process for their room. It’s a good way to teach them about responsibilities and chores. However, instead of making it a task, you can break down packing into multiple games that include races, surprises, music, dancing, rewards for helping out, and even tag packing. This is also a great chance to explain to your kids that their favorite toys are not going to disappear forever, they just need to be stored safely to be transported.
Pack and Clean at the Same Time
Kids are natural hoarders, so they usually have messy rooms with mountains of laundry. Packing your kid’s room for a move is the best time to conduct a thorough cleaning mission and even teach them about cleanliness. Crusty clothes, old foods, broken crayons, and other waste can go in trash bags. Unless they are ready to part ways with their old toys (which is very unlikely!) you may want to hold off on those and throw them out when your kids are not around.
Let Your Kids Label and Decorate Their Boxes
Invite your kids to label and decorate their boxes. This will give them an extra boost of confidence, fun, and distraction. Provide crayons and color pencils for them to paint their name and draw characters on the box as well to make it an all-around fun activity. Just make sure those boxes are clearly labeled for your benefit as well. Otherwise, you run the risk of them being misplaced.
Talk to Your Kids About Organizing Their New Room
Most children don’t see moving as an exciting time, so it’s our job to highlight the benefits of a new house. Talking to your kids about their new room, and how they would like to decorate it is a helpful way to cheer them up. Ask them what color they would like it to be, and if they would like to follow a theme to make decorating a fun activity later on.
