Moving to a new home can be exciting but also stressful for both you and your kids. But if you allow your kids to help preparing to move, then it will be better on your whole family. Giving your kids some responsibilities will not only keep them entertained but will also make them feel important during this big move. We at North Beach Realty have 6 great ways your kids can help move. Let’s look at what the kids can do to help move or prepare to move to the North Myrtle Beach area.
House Hunting
The first stage of moving is finding another home to live in. Let your kids provide you with some input on where to move to. Bring them when you go look at a house or two and ask for their opinions on the home. You will learn some important insights from them about what they thought of the house and what they didn’t. Finding a house just isn’t about what you like, but it’s what the whole family loves. This in the end will help you and your family find the perfect home.
Getting Rid of Things
When moving, one rule of thumb to remember is less is better. Honestly, you never know how much stuff you have until you start to pack. Then it seems that you find everything and anything that you haven’t used for years. A good rule of thumb for getting rid of things easier is if you haven’t used it in the past two years let it go. This goes for your kids too, if they have clothing or toys that they haven’t worn or played with in years, let it go. But allowing your kids to help get rid of things is the best as they can say what they want to bring with them to the new house. And if your kids have a hard time parting with something, just let them know that there are less fortunate children out there who have nothing. Most times, this works like a charm and it helps them feel like they are doing something special too.
Decorating the Boxes
After you have packed up a box or more, let your kids decorate the boxes. Giving them access to designing the boxes with what is in them will help make the job go a long way. If your child can write, have them label each box as well. Asking them to help participate in with packing will help them adjust a little easier too. And when you are finished packing up each room, finding them will hopefully be a little easier. Just including your kids in something like decorating the boxes can make them more excited for moving.
Clean Up Time
After the house or say each room is packed up and hopefully on a truck headed to your new home, you will want to clean it. But cleaning the house on your own can be stressful in its own, so why not let your kids help. Even toddlers can help clean up like wiping down surfaces and sweeping corners. If you assign each kid with a cleaning task appropriate for their age then your old home will be clean in no time. By middle school, your kids should be capable of doing things such as vacuuming, dusting and wiping the fridge clean. Just remember to not give the tasks to your kids if it involves using a lot of chemicals. But asking for help with the dusting, vacuuming, sweeping and more can help you not feel so stressed out.
Pack an Essential Bag
Whenever you move, we understand that not everything is going to get packed away. Packing an essential bag for each member in the family will help you for before and after the move. For each kid, pack items such as their toothbrush, toothpaste, pajamas, favorite blanket or toy, and a few changes of clothes. When it comes to packing an essential bag for the older kids, give them a list of what they will need and have them pack it. That way it gives them the flexibility to pack what they want, but they are still sticking to the list you gave them. They will also feel more like an individual and grown up if they do it on their own.
Unpacking Mode
Once you have moved into your new home, you want to get your kids involved in the unpacking process. Put them in charge of unpacking their own boxes for their new room. Let them put their books on their bookshelf or their clothes in their dresser or closet. Just remember that you can always go back and rearrange what they have done if you don’t like it. But asking for their help with unpacking can help you as well. Once they have finished their bedrooms, then you can ask them to help put away other boxes in the house. This will help them feel important and will have less anxiety about moving to a new home. Make this process fun for them as they too are adjusting to a new home too.
There are many other things or ways to help your child not be stressed about moving, but these are a few we thought you would like. If you haven’t moved yet but are thinking of moving, then please contact one of our North Beach Realty Team Members to help you. We hope that you and your family can have a stress-free move.