Screaming and crying. Tantrums.

Helping kids when they’re upset is hard. It tries your patience, and if they’re little enough, they can’t even tell you what they want.

Although fewer Americans move now than in the past, it’s still a big transition. Moving with little ones doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Help them understand what a move is and how things will change.

Here are some tips to ease the transition.

Talk It Through

Prepare your kids by talking with them about the move, before and during the process. It helps them know what to expect.

Read picture books about moving with your child to help ready them as well.

Discuss the move with them openly and allow them to express their feelings about it. Your child might feel scared, sad, confused, or maybe even excited. Talk about your feelings and let them know how you are feeling. Try to approach the discussion positively.

Then on moving day, reflect on the earlier discussion you had with your child.

Pack Their Things Last

Make sure your child’s familiar things like favorite toys are set out and get loaded last. This will make the transition easier.

Explain as you pack up their room and toys that you are not throwing them away, but packing them for the move.

Loading their items last means they get to see them until the end, and that way they’re on top when you get to your destination.

Set Up Their Room First

The first thing to take care of when setting up a new home is to get your child’s room ready.

Try to arrange it similarly to his old room. If his bed had a sightline to the door, try to place it in a similar position in his new room.

Keep familiar bedding the same for now. Organize toys and books on the shelves the same way. Perhaps take a little time to hang the artwork that was on your child’s room in the previous house.

So, even if the rest of the house is in a chaotic state your child’s room is a comfortable, familiar spot. They’ll feel more calm with the same regular bedtime things all around them. They’ll forget that the rest of the house is different, at least until morning.

Establish a Routine

Even though you will have the complicated, time-consuming task of unpacking all your boxes in your new home, keep regular mealtimes and bedtimes the best you can.

It’s important to establish a routine for your child as soon as you get to your new home. Young children, in particular, thrive on routine and predictability, so getting the family back into the swing of the normal daily activities is essential.

Getting Settled

Whether you’re talking about the move, packing up your child’s room, or setting everything up in a new house, you can help your child make an easy transition. Stick to your regular routines at bedtime, and they’ll feel more at home.

If moving with a little one seems like too much to handle on your own, get the help you need today. Request a free quote from Community Moving & Storage and let us do the heavy lifting so you can focus on your family.