Moving cross country is hard enough when you don’t have kids. Moving with kids is hard enough when you’re only doing it locally. So how exactly are you supposed to handle both of those at once? Well, nobody’s saying it’ll be easy. But with the help of Vision Movers FL, it’s certainly possible! While we can’t quite claim to make moving cross country with kids completely stress-free, we definitely know how to make it much easier. So stick around and take a look at some of our best tips on how to move long distance with children!
Moving cross country with kids usually starts with a family meeting
How you prepare your children for the upcoming relocation will depend in large part on their age. The best thing you can do for infants and toddlers, for example, is pretty much nothing. That is: stick to a routine as much as possible and don’t make any other major changes while moving. But with older children and teenagers who can understand what is happening, this isn’t going to work. You’ll need to let your kids know that you’re moving and when, as well as explain the whole process to them. That is why you should discuss the move with your kids as soon as you know about it with any certainty.
Talk to your children about what’s going to happen
Even if your children are old enough to understand moving and your reasons behind it, they’re unlikely to know what moving really entails. However, moving is a long process that will inevitably affect their everyday lives. So it’s incredibly important that you prepare them in advance for what is going to happen. Explain to them about how packing starts with weeks to spare, about how cross country movers Florida will be in the house on moving day to help out, about how it may take a while to get all your furniture and belongings delivered to your new address. Your children need to know this because moving cross country with kids is much easier if you’re all on the same page.
Include your children in the process as much as possible
Nobody likes to feel like an outsider, least of all children. So it’s a bad idea to talk over them and act like moving doesn’t affect them just because they aren’t doing most of the work. You will make any cross country relocation with children easier if you include them instead.
Of course, kids can’t do all the things you can. You’ll have to research residential movers FL yourself and find places to get cheap moving supplies, for example. But you should let your kids know about any plans or changes in them. And you should let them make as many decisions as possible, especially when it comes to things that concern them personally. It won’t make much difference to you which toys go in the storage and which go in the overnight bag. You won’t care if you pack the kids’ room first or last. But giving these kinds of choices to your children can make a huge difference to them.
Decide how involved with moving tasks your children should be
One thing that you should definitely discuss with your children is how much they will participate in the moving process itself. Sometimes and for some children, it’s best when they’re only peripherally involved, leaving you to do all of the actual work. But there are also things children can do during relocation. You can let them pack their rooms, for example, or label moving boxes. Some kids like to be more involved that way. Whatever the best solution for your family is, make sure that you communicate about it with your kids.
Plan moving cross country with kids around your children’s needs
You can’t always choose when or where you’re moving. But if you can, try to work out a relocation that fits in with your kids’ lives. Moving cross country is already a huge change for them. If you can minimize it as much as possible, it’ll help them deal with it better. Try to wait for the end of the school year and give them time to say goodbye to their friends. That way, they’ll have some closure and it’ll feel less like you’re uprooting their whole life suddenly.
Be flexible and give yourself more than enough time for everything
Children of all ages are always a bit of a wild card. Moving cross country with kids is, therefore, always a bit of a gamble. Kids are more prone to getting sick or injured which can put a dent in your plans. Traveling with children can be tricky because they’re not always the most cooperative. And unless you’re relying on professional packing services, you can probably count on some tantrums and delays from kids who don’t want to see all their stuff taken away. The solution is to always have a flexible moving plan with plenty of time to spare. That way, any delays won’t be detrimental to your relocation.
Help your children settle in after moving cross country with kids
After moving cross country with kids your family will enter a period of adjustment. You will all need to settle into your new home, figure out your new routines and get comfortable with your new schools and jobs. It is very important at this time not to get self-absorbed and to pay attention to how your children are dealing. Children can be just as affected by the stress of moving as adults, sometimes more. So talk openly to your children about how they’re feeling. Validate their feelings and let them be angry or sad if they need to – don’t try to talk or force them into being immediately okay. Instead, encourage them to make friends and engage in activities they enjoy. This will make the transition easier and more enjoyable for them.