Relocation is stressful, relocation with kids can be excruciating.
What I have learned from my experience as a Portland professional organizer and relocation specialist is that relocation can go smoothly with a plan in place.
Here are my top tips to make relocation easier on you and your kids:
1. Let your kids be in charge of downsizing their own things
Every parent knows the struggle of maintaining bins of lovies and toys that kids aren’t willing to part with. While moving is an ideal opportunity to downsize, stay cognizant that it’s also a time when your kids may be angry with you. These treasures that you see as taking up another box are among the few things they can hold onto to remind them of home. To reduce pre-move stress and emotional upset, let them pack up what they want. An exception to this strategy is when an international move or a significant downsized space makes a pre-move clean out necessary. In this case, keep your child involved, provide them with the specific boxes they can fill, and avoid the temptation of sneaky discards.
2. Listen and address concerns
Your kid(s) did not make the decision to move, heck, you may have not made the decision to move! But even when you know in your heart of hearts that a move is the best thing for your family, your children will give up a lot in the process. They will be faced with a plethora of new challenges - worrying about making new friends, having to reestablish their position in sports, or adjust to a new culture in the case of an international move. Make and take the time to listen and address your children’s concerns. Feeling seen, heard and supported can make a huge impact on your kids’ sentiment about the move.
3. Keep in touch with old friends
As much as we might wish we never gave our kid the iPad to watch a show, technology is huge plus for managing homesickness. This is especially true for an international or cross-country relocation. If your kids are worried about leaving their friends from their old neighborhood or school, schedule a trip to come back to visit, offer to bring old friends to your new home, or encourage Zoom/Facetime meetups. Let your older kids know they are welcome to reach out to friends using their tech tools. For younger kids, coordinate meetups with parents as an easy way to help your children feel more connected.
4. Give your kids a role in the move
Your kids will be less resentful about the move if they feel their voice matters. Make your kids part of your decisions, like searching for a new home, neighborhood, or school. When putting together your house hunting wish list, ask your kids about their priorities (within realistic reason) and keep them top of mind during your search. Take the kids with you to tour homes and schools. Be honest with them when choice is limited. When you do have options, use that age old parenting tool and give your kids a choice between two outcomes you can live with. This kind of involvement can get a resentful kid excited about the possibilities a move can bring.
5. Make your child’s bed a safe and happy haven
Change is hard for us let alone our kids! Whenever possible, make their domain (their room or bed) similar to their old space. Or if you agree with your child on the opportunity for an upgrade, go for it! Sometimes it’s out of your hands, but do your best to avoid making your child’s immediate domain a downgrade. Some situations I have encountered that had a poor outcome included: a child who had their own room having to share with a sibling, being placed in a smaller room or a smaller bed size, a younger kid moved further away from parent’s room. All of these things can make a move that much more unsettling for a child. In these cases, look for ways to add special touches to the space, with the child’s input, to make it their own safe place.
6: Hire relocation support
Why navigate the relocation process alone when you can have your own personal navigator on your side? Being a professional organizer based in Portland, Oregon, I see many families move in and out of the area for work. I love collaborating with families to help make their transition easier. From my own experience and through my training, I have bags of tricks and tips to reduce the stress of a move on kids of all ages, and on you!
Relocating can be tricky with kids, but it can also be a beautiful opportunity to create new memories as a family.
Learn more about how Clutterfly can help you get relocated easily so you and your kids can start enjoying your new space right away.
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