Although moving house is usually considered an adult-centric task, including your children can make it a family activity that teaches kids responsibility and planning.
Not only does it reduce your workload, but it also gives children a sense of control and minimises their anxiety about the move. So, it’s crucial to give them chores that fit their age and ability.
Selecting age-appropriate activities will help you ensure that everyone’s moving experience is seamless and pleasant.
Let’s discuss some doable strategies to get your kids engaged in the relocation process with fun ideas to make it enjoyable and free of stress.
Toddlers
Toddlers aged 2 to 4 can help with the move. Give them simple tasks to make them feel involved without overwhelming them.
First, let your child help by sorting their personal belongings. Supply them with two bins and ensure that one is for items they want to give away and another for those they wish to retain.
Turn giving into a game. Ask your kids to give away toys they no longer play with to help others. Along with keeping them occupied, this helps clear clutter before a major relocation.
You can also ask toddlers to decorate moving boxes, which is another fun chore. Give them crayons, stickers, or markers and let them personalise the boxes, particularly the ones containing their toys or clothing.
Although they are not directly helping with packing, this activity allows them to participate in the process. It keeps them busy while you manage more challenging tasks.
Toddlers can also be your assistants while packing. Ask them to bring you lightweight items, hand you tape, or carry light objects into their designated locations.
Preschoolers
Schoolchildren, from ages 4 to 6, will be eager to assist you during a relocation, since they love to copy adults.
Give them slightly more challenging tasks to keep them involved. You can do so by letting them pack their own toy boxes.
Give them a box, and let them decide which toys to pack. They can also assist in wrapping their plush animals with tissue paper.
This helps kids to feel in charge of their possessions, therefore easing any worry about their objects being lost while moving them.
Small, non-breakable objects around the house, such as books or DVDs, can also be gathered by schoolchildren under your direction.
Furthermore, turning this into a treasure hunt helps in making this task seem more like an adventure than a chore. Moving from room to room and gathering packing supplies helps them feel included.
School-Age Kids
Children aged 7 to 12 years old are often eager to demonstrate their abilities and capability of handling a wider range of tasks.
Kids are a great addition to the moving and packing process at this age, since they are quite helpful with packing, organising, and making simple choices.
First, let them do the packing in their own rooms and offer directions on how to arrange and wrap fragile objects.
This helps children to feel a sense of accomplishment and teaches them proper organisational skills. A “packing competition” also lets you challenge them by timing how quickly and neatly they can pack a box.
Children in this age range can also assist with housekeeping by organising objects for you.
Decide what to keep, donate, or throw away, and then give them the task of tidying communal areas, such as the living room or kitchen based on these categories.
They can also help with packing books, cookware, and other items, so you have more time to concentrate on more difficult chores.
Having them compile an essentials box for the first few days in your new house is another helpful chore. Let them decide what the family will need, including games, snacks, or toiletries.
This guarantees that crucial items aren’t buried in the back of a moving truck and makes them feel responsible for these items.
Children of school age can also assist you with moving smaller objects into the car or lighter boxes. Ensure that you reward their efforts, as this will help them remain involved and motivated.
Teenagers
Teenagers are a great asset in the moving process, since they possess the maturity and strength to handle more difficult chores.
Involving your teen not only eases the workload, but also helps them learn resilience, organisation, and planning, all of which are key life skills.
Give your teen a leadership role by putting them in charge of organising younger siblings’ packing tasks or by asking them to pack a certain section of the house.
They can also be in charge of packing electronics or glassware. Assigning these tasks demonstrates your confidence in them and respect for their opinions.
Teens should also help with the moving day logistics. They can make sure everything is in operating order and assist you in developing a moving timeline, checklist, or schedule.
Should they have a driver’s licence, they can help with transportation or perform errands, including delivering goods for packaging or dropping off donations.
Teenagers can also be quite helpful in looking up and contacting nearby removal services. Let them compile quotes, list services, and forward these results to you.
This chore not only addresses the pragmatic side of relocation, but also teaches them how to make wise judgements, an ability that will serve them all their life.
Moreover, they can assist movers on where boxes should go in the new house. They can also take care of unpacking in several rooms, as well as manage arranging unpacked items according to the layout of your new house.
Making Moving Day Fun and Memorable
Children of any age are more likely to appreciate the moving process if it seems entertaining and interesting. Think about making the moving day an occasion worth celebrating with these few steps:
● Play lively music, offer their preferred snacks, and take breaks more often, so that they maintain high energy levels.
● As you pack, load, and unload, compile a moving playlist that contains the favourite songs of every family member to help keep up their spirits.
● Set up a moving day camp in one room with blankets, toys, and food for younger children to lounge in, while adults and older children do most of the arduous tasks.
● Give older children and teenagers some artistic freedom to arrange their new rooms first. This will turn unpacking into an interesting activity.
Conclusion
Including children in the relocation process is about fostering family unity and reducing anxiety for everyone.
Assigning age-appropriate chores turns the relocation process into a family effort and ensures that everyone has a role to play.
Make sure to hire services specialising in removals, as this is key in making relocating an easy process for you and your family.
Remember to keep it light-hearted, and to be patient. Moving is a new chapter for your family and everyone’s participation makes it successful.
