Moving with Children: Tips to make it Easier

Moving from one Brisbane home to another is stressful. This is aggravated when you’re moving with young kids. Children are also resilient, and they can process the transition faster and easier when you discuss it with them. Give them enough time and explanation, and they will welcome, not resist the change.

Here are some tips to make your move a lot easier;

Prepare your kids for the move – Children who are emotionally prepared for the move are more resilient and agreeable during the move. Here are ways to prepare your child;

Ø  Explain why you’re moving – Give them something fun to look forward to. Tell her or him great reasons for the move – new school, bigger house, or a large backyard that will allow you to get a dog!

Ø  Show them your new home – As soon as you bought the house or signed the lease, visit your new home together. Let your child speak about how he or she thinks of it. This will start process the move in their mindset.

Ø  Discuss her/his new room – Planning and visualising make the move even more fun and exciting for your child. Ask how they plan to decorate, and if there’s anything they want to bring in from your old home.

Ø  Set a Moving Out party for your kids and their friends – For older kids, a party will give them the opportunity to bid their neighbouring friends goodbye and to exchange addresses and promises. An afternoon garden event is most appropriate.

Paint an Adventure – Drum up the excitement and make the impending move an adventure. Highlight fun details like new friends to meet, the ‘travelling’, new school, and new parks to explore.

Appropriate Timing – Timing the move is everything. Ideally, your move should be right after end of school days, during mild seasons, and far from any major event in your child’s life – birthdays, sports events, or a dental procedure.

Plan Ahead – Book Brisbane home movers early, notify service providers – both for your current and new homes. Let them know you’ll be moving with kids. Notify your bank, check schools, notify doctors and ask for recommendations near your new address, and try to learn about your new neighbourhood as much as you can.

Clean up before packing – Purging before packing will help speed things up. Sort through your kids’ closets, and remove everything that are no longer needed – clothes and shoes that are already too small, discarded toys, and accessories. Organise a garage sale or donate useable items and discard the rest.

Let them help pack – Involve your kids in the packing. With guidance, older kids can pack their own stuff. For younger children, let them know that separation from their toys and blankets is just temporary. Show them where they are carefully boxed and marked. You can use colours so they can easily find the box when unpacking.

Pack Essentials – Pack essentials you and your children will need on moving day. This could include a change of clothes for you, 2-3 for younger children, special food or formula, diapers and bottles if necessary, activity gear like movies, toys, or books if the drive is long, and cash.

If necessary, book alternate accommodations – Making arrangement for alternate accommodations is advised if you’re moving with three or more young kids and if you have a baby. They can be irritable and needing attention. Do not count on unpacking, cooking, or setting up comfortable sleeping areas on your first night in. Booking a hotel room or setting up with family or friends for a couple of nights will both give you and the children a respite from stress.

Get Help – Get as much help as you can. Ask you Brisbane agent to recommend movers, storage, and contractors. Baby sitters, pet sitters, hired transport, and cleaners can also help. Let your friends and family know of your impending move, they can always give a helping hand to ease the course of moving.

Buying and moving to your new home in Brisbane is complicated to say the least. If you still need additional moving guidance and information, do not hesitate to call us. And click here to get in touch with the best real estate agents who can help you find property investments or sell your home.