Moving with Children: Packing and Unpacking

Moving is a stressful time for adults and children can make it even more so. Children while flexible and resilient often have a difficult time with changes to their surroundings. Children don't understand everything that is going on during a move. These tips for packing and unpacking will help make a move with children a little easier on all those involved.

If your children are very young, it is better for the child not to be around when your packing. Young children love taking things in and out of boxes. This can be very frustrating to the grown-ups who are packing for a move. Items tend to mysteriously disappear during moves and adding young children in to the mix makes those mysterious disappearances multiply. If your young children are not around there will not be any protests to items being sealed away in boxes. Having your children with a sitter or friend will also allow you to purge clutter without protest as well.

An older child can help you pack their belongings. An older child will appreciate knowing where there stuff has gone and can help mom in deciding what items they are ready to part with before the move. The result will be a more contented child than if you had just gone through their belongings and done as you pleased.

Children who are preparing for a move don't always understand how the process works. Explain in detail everything that is going happen from packing boxes, renting a truck, hotel stays, arriving in the new home etc. Make sure your children know that items being packed away are going to your new home. Young children especially don't understand the concept of storing things away out of sight for a move. If they can't see it, they think it is gone. Even slightly older children may not be sure if you are taking belongings with you on the move.

Don't pack your child's security items such as special blankets or favorite stuffed animals. Not having access to these items will make moving much for stressful for the child and thus the parents as well. Special items can be kept out until the day of the move and if need be packed in the car. Most special items that children are latched on to can easily be held by the child in the backseat of the car or on an airplane trip.

Mark boxes clearly with contents so you can easily find your child's belongings. General labels indicating basic contents and what room they belong to. A paper with a more detailed inventory can be placed on the inside of boxes. This will be helpful when your trying to locate something practical you need for your children or if you want to find something particular they want.

If possible pack your child's room last and unpack it first. Doing this allows your child an easier transition during the move since they will not be away for their usual surroundings for a unnecessary amount of time. Helping your child unpack and put their room back together first will help your child to begin settling in to their new home.