Relocating with kids is always a little tough, particularly if they are resistant to the relocation itself. The trick is to prepare them for the moving and then involve them. By being involved in the process, they will feel as they are part of a team and in more control of a circumstance where they sometimes feel helpless.
Ready Them For the Move
First, inform your kid about the relocation. Prepare them for moving and involve them; hold family meetings; have moving discussions.
Once your child is aware of the move, the next step is to help them prepare, and the first agenda is to take them to the office supply store to buy fun equipment for them to use to pack their belongings. Purchase things like markers, colorful stickers, a diary or journal to document their experience, packing tape, boxes, and, if you don’t prefer cardboard boxes, plastic bins.
Go Through Their Bedroom with Them
Know that kids will try to hold onto their possessions a little more tightly than they normally would. Relocating is all about change and the more change in their lives, the tighter they’ll hold on to the items they care about. Take time to go through their room with them to help them in deciding what to keep and what to throw away.
Get the Room Dimensions
If you can, give older children their room dimensions so that they can plan their space. Tell them what things their room will have or if new furniture may be required. Try getting them to imagine their new room and start designing how they’d like it to look. This will help them select the things they want to keep for their new rooms.
For Children Under the Age of 6
Go through their toys, clothes, and books with them to determine what to keep and what to sell or donate. Also, at this point, you may want to decide which pieces of furniture will come with you.
For Kids from 7 to 11 Years Old
Together with them, go through their room, instructing them on what needs to be sorted, with an explanation as to why an item gets moved and let them make their keep and trash piles.
For Kids Over 12 Years Old
Give older children a chance to do as much of the sorting and packing of their room as you can. Try to tolerate their decisions and respect their spaces. Again, as with the younger ones, provide them with keep and trash bins so they can sort their belongings accordingly.
Provide them with plastic containers where they can keep the items they would like to sell or donate. Try to get kids excited or interested in donating their belongings to a local charity or selling stuff in a garage sale or online.
After they’ve sorted their things, go through both piles to make sure they are donating what’s appropriate and not keeping items they don’t require. Ensure you remain sensitive to what they’re asking to take with them.
Prepare the Essentials Bag
Their essentials bag should contain all those items they’ll need for the trip to the new house and the first few nights.
This bag won’t have clothes or toiletries, but things that they want to keep them busy or to remind them of their old place. Most kids pack diaries, a few activity and address books, puzzles, or handheld computer games.
Get Packing
Pack clothes, shoes and practical items they’ll require first. Ensure to include enough supplies for the journey and a few nights at the new destination. This will allow time for the moving trailer to arrive and for you to unpack the cartons.
Depending on your child’s age, most of the packing might be on you. Even if your child is very young, you can ask them to mark or decorate the packed cartons or help seal them with packing tape.
Older children can take care of a lot of their packing – just ensure to instruct them on how to pack things, and that you’re available for any questions or concerns.
Ensure that all liquids are closed properly or emptied before they are packed. Check squirt guns, chemistry sets, and paints before being packed.
For more information on helping your children pack their stuff, contact Movers Toronto to get more helpful information or to get a moving quote.