Top Tips for Moving With Kids
This biweekly sponsored column is written by the experts at Gordon James Realty, a D.C.-based property management company that specializes in managing condos, single-family homes and multi-family properties in the metro region. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.
Moving is hectic for everyone. Mix young children into things? Total chaos. Forget packing up all of the toys and clothes. You also have to factor in school enrollment and switching to after school activities close to home – dance, sports, Boy or Girl Scouts. Not to mention that most of these activities have seasonal deadlines.
Hopefully, we can help calm some of that chaos with a few tips for moving with young children.
Contact the new school at least a month before your move date — Make sure all paperwork for your child, such as immunization forms, have been completed and provided to the school. You should also arrange a school tour, which would give both you and your children a chance to meet their new teacher and check out the new playground.
Change your address before you move — You know that you have to change your address with the post office. It’s best to do it approximately a week before you move so that no important paperwork gets lost in the mail. It usually takes a few days for things to cross over. Make sure to contact credit card companies, magazines, cell phone companies and others directly.
Book your move early — Hiring a moving company will make your move quicker and more efficient. Booking a moving truck a few weeks out will ensure that you’ll receive the size that you need. And don’t wait until the last minute if you’re packing up those boxes on your own.
Buy the local newspaper — This is an easy way to get accustomed to your new town. You’ll be able to scan the calendar and pick out some fun activities that will get your kids excited for the move. This is also an easy way for them to meet new children.
Pack up your child’s favorite belongings in one box. Let them help — What you deem “important” will most likely not be the same things that your children deem important. So let them help you pack a special box. Decorate it and have them label it. Keep this box with you for your child to open as soon as you move in. This will help to create a familiar place for your child in the new home. You could even sneak a small gift in there, as a surprise when you get into your new house.
Let your kids plan a “Last Day in Town”— Hit up all of their favorites — restaurant, park, ice cream shop. Then, go over the new newspaper you purchased and plan a “First Day in Town.”
Unpack your child’s room first — Moving is exhausting for everyone. Unpack your child’s room first. This will give them a sense of normalcy and will keep them busy while you finish setting up the rest of the house.
Generating excitement about the move may be challenging in the midst of all the tasks involved. Try to focus on the positives the change will bring, whether it is a bigger bedroom, new parks to explore or a neighborhood filled with other kids. You’ll help your kids see the move as an adventure.
If you’re planning to move but still searching for your next place, check out this guide that can help you decide whether to buy or rent your home.
The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HillNow.com.
