Moving house is a huge life change, particularly if you have children. When moving from a home your children have felt safe and comfortable in, it’s important to have a game plan ready to ensure that any upset or uncertainty is minimised and the experience is instead exciting and full of adventure for everyone.

Here’s our guide to a child-friendly move.

Allow Them To Get Involved

Kids are naturally curious and want to be involved, which is great because this will provide plenty of opportunities to talk about the move and allay any concerns or worries they might have. Although many children are likely to have some objections to moving because it can be such a daunting prospect, the great news is that 77% of children report preferring their new home to their old home once they’d moved in.

Depending on how old your children are, you may want to take them along to view properties, which will give you the chance to see how they respond to different potential future homes. Or you could sit down as a family and ask your kids what they would like their future home to have or how they feel about certain paint colours, which will ensure they feel heard and that their opinions are important to you.

Prepare An Emergency Box

Moving days can be long and stressful, so it can be helpful to have a dedicated box filled with everything you’ll need to keep your children occupied and entertained. The items inside will depend on your child but may include colouring books and crayons, drinks and snacks, books, a tablet with their favourite shows downloaded, and a change of clothes. Make sure this box is clearly labelled to ensure it’s not accidentally loaded onto the moving van or placed into storage.

Pack Their Things Last

Working with your removal and packing team to ensure that your kid’s things are packed last can be a brilliant way to keep your children engaged and excited throughout the day. As well as ensuring that your kids are kept occupied at a time when there will be a lot of activity in the house and large pieces of furniture being moved, packing your kid’s belongings last will ensure they’re first off the van in your new home. This means that they can get involved straight away with organising their bedrooms or have something to keep them occupied if they start to get a bit restless.

Make sure your children and their belongings are safely situated in one room, particularly when your removal team is tackling some of the bulkier items in your home. An experienced removal team will work with you to understand your unique needs, helping you come up with a plan to ensure your move progresses as seamlessly as possible.

Help Them Unpack

Setting up your children’s bedrooms first when you arrive at your new home is a brilliant way to start the settling-in process. Even if your children are old enough to do this themselves, doing it as a family will provide you with opportunities to chat about the day and address any worries that they may have had throughout the moving process.

If you have a garden in your new home, it can also be beneficial to set up some outdoor toys as well. Not only will playing outside keep your children occupied as you start to unpack, but it’s also a great way to ensure they can let off steam and start to feel settled after a busy day.

Don’t Let Yourself Get Burnt Out

It’s perfectly natural to feel stressed on moving day but it’s important to allow yourself time to rest and take a breather, even if it’s just 10 minutes to have a cup of tea and a snack as a family. Everything will work itself out in the end, so don’t be too hard on yourself if everything hasn’t gone quite to plan on day one.

Be Fun, Yet Consistent

Sticking to a routine as much as possible will help to maintain a sense of stability throughout a time when so much has changed. It’s also a great time to make some positive memories, which can help your children associate their new home with fun and enjoyment. So, why not tuck into a dinner you wouldn’t usually have or sit down for a movie night or an evening of family games? But try not to let this get in the way of maintaining your kid’s nighttime routine, and make sure they’re safely tucked up in bed as close to their usual bedtime as possible.