Moving from your current home to a new place can feel daunting when you have a large family. But our Move-tastic team can help ease your worries about relocating to the Chicagoland area. Explore our essential moving tips for families to help you stay organized and stress-free!
The Importance of Involving the Whole Family in the Moving Process
A big move is stressful for everyone in the family, especially your kids, as it’s a significant life change that can take more time to get used to the longer you’ve lived in your current home. If they’ve become friends with other kids in the neighborhood, they may feel sad moving away from them. The same sentiment rings true if they’re changing schools.
The best thing to do to help ease this transition is to give everyone a role during the move, which can instill a sense of pride in their contribution to helping the family move. Still, it’s important to let your children voice their fears or concerns so you can talk through their worries with a positive outlook and reassurance. While your kids may feel anxious about the move, focus on the excitement of moving to a new place and getting to discover your new neighborhood together.
Describe the upcoming move as a fun family adventure. Before moving, consider hosting a farewell party and let your children invite their friends and teachers. You could also have a family pizza party or picnic in the backyard the night before the move to make one last memory in your old home together. These activities can help the family feel more connected and emotionally prepared for the move.
Assigning Roles and Responsibilities to Each Family Member
Create a family moving plan by assigning roles and responsibilities to each family member. Consider everyone’s age and the amount of responsibility they can handle appropriately. Teenagers may be able to pack up their rooms with little assistance. Older children may need more guidance but can pack easier items, such as towels, bedding, and nonbreakables, giving them a sense of contribution and accomplishment.
If you’re a couple with younger kids, form a tag team. Have one parent pack while the other cares for the kids or takes them to the park, then switch the next day. If you want to pack up your home uninterrupted, consider hiring a babysitter or schedule a playdate with the neighbor’s kids.
Packing Strategies for a Large Family
Here are helpful tips for organizing and packing with a large family in mind:
- Eliminate the overwhelming feeling of packing up your family home, and start packing at least one or two months before moving by sorting and organizing a section of your home every day. Even if you only have one hour of spare time, you can clear through clutter and create a donation pile for items you no longer need.
- Purchase a small supply of paper plates and plastic utensils to last several days so you can pack your kitchen and dining room entirely.
- Pack overnight bags for every family member and include clothes and toiletries so everyone has what they need for the first few days after the big move. Pack all your electronics’ chargers and cords in a backpack for easy access after the move.
- Leave packing up your children’s rooms last so there’s as little disruption in their routines as possible. If you have a toddler, you may consider packing their toys when they’re not present to avoid tantrums.
How To Manage and Label Boxes To Keep Track of Everyone’s Belongings
Stay organized and avoid last-minute chaos by packing one room at a time. As you pack up each room, label the boxes by room instead of by items to ensure they end up exactly where they need to go in your new place. Use bright-colored duct tape on the sides of boxes that contain essentials to find what you need to unpack first.
Planning for Meals and Breaks To Maintain Energy Levels
Remember to take breaks while packing by going outside for some fresh air or napping as needed. Stay well fed and hydrated to maintain your energy throughout the process. Consider ordering meal delivery to manage packing time better and avoid using the kitchen.
Managing Moving Day With Kids
Once your new home is official, draw a floor plan and involve your family in planning where everything will go. This step will help empower your children by validating their input while allowing you to maintain some control and ensure a smooth move-out and move-in process. If possible, give your kids a sense of closure by saying goodbye to your empty house and thanking it for all the good memories.
On moving day, stay relaxed and model a positive attitude as often as possible so your kids feed off your upbeat energy. Once the moving truck is empty, unpack and make everyone’s beds first. If anyone is sleepy, they can nap as needed. Next, set up key areas of your new home, such as the kitchen, so it’s ready for your first family meal together.
Moving Tips for Families: Strategies for Keeping Children Entertained and Safe During the Move
The following tips can help reduce stress during a big move by keeping your children occupied:
- Have your kids pack a special bag of books and familiar comfort items, such as a special blanket or stuffed animal for the car ride.
- Keep a laptop or tablet handy for streaming movies or playing games for the kids to enjoy while you’re busy.
- Allow time for a hands-on, creative session and give the kids empty boxes, stickers, and markers to decorate and craft a box city. Add bubble wrap for some sensory fun.
- If you have a toddler or baby, you may benefit from a playpen to safely contain little ones while you unload the moving truck.
Settling Into Your New Home in Chicago as a Family
An effective way to establish normalcy in your new space is to return to your typical family routine. Maintain your family traditions from your old place and create new ones as you explore local playgrounds and fun attractions in Chicago. It takes time to adjust, but soon, your new home will feel less foreign, and your kids will find comfort in their new surroundings. Need help making your big move easier? Contact our Move-tastic team for extra help and expert advice.
Photo by Blue Bird: https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-sitting-on-a-couch-browsing-on-computer-7218508/