Moving into a new home is one of the most stressful life events you can experience. But when you relocate to another state and are doing so with kids, your anxiety levels could easily catapult through the roof!
That said, every year, over 400,000 Aussies successfully move into an interstate property, even if they do experience the odd bump or two in the road.
As a mum, much of the packing and organisational aspects might well fall (or be put!) on your shoulders, which you’ll need to manage on top of looking after the kids and juggling your daily responsibilities.
While it can seem a bit overwhelming at first, with some careful planning, you can make the process of moving with kids a whole lot smoother.
Here are some very effective ways to do so.
Guide to Surviving a Move with Kids
1. Get the Kids on Board Early
Children don’t like change. However, at the same time, they are also incredibly resilient and adaptable. Therefore, the key to a successful interstate move is to try to get them on board with it early. If you can do this, that is half the battle won.
They may well be sad when you tell them you are moving, particularly if they have friends or sports/recreational clubs they will be leaving behind. However, it is important to make them aware of the reasons behind the move and the potential benefits that can bring the family.
For instance, if you or your partner has got a new, better-paid job, telling your children you will have more money for holidays and family excursions might well appease them.
Before you tell them, it is a good idea to have a mini-break or holiday in the area you intend to relocate to. That way, it will be less of a journey into the unknown for them, and they might also discover there is a great beach, park, swimming pool or playground in the area that will give them something to look forward to.
2. Get Help from Professional Removalists
When it comes to organising the move, arguably the smartest thing you can do is to call in the professionals.
There are a host of companies in Australia that can co-ordinate the entire moving interstate process for you. This includes everything from boxing up your possessions and responsibly disposing of anything you don’t want to transporting them to your new home and unpacking them for you.
This type of full service can save your sanity!
But before engaging the services of a company, make sure you get a full quote for the moving costs. That way, you will be able to budget accordingly.
Additionally, as relocating interstate can be expensive, get quotes from a few businesses to find the one that offers the best value for money and has great reviews.
3. Get Kids to Help
If you decide to organise the packing aspect yourself to reduce costs, it is a good idea to get your children to help you out. The more you can make them feel involved in the moving process, the better buy-in you will have from them.
A good place to start is to get children to help you pick boxes for packing. Doing this might involve a visit to Officeworks, which you could incentivise them to do with the promise of a little treat.
Once you’ve brought the boxes to your current home, get them to help you make them up and start to pack one room at a time. A good tip here is to turn it into a game, where you challenge them to (neatly!) pack a box in as quick a time as possible.
When they have successfully packed a box, make sure you heap lots of praise on them.
4. Get a Babysitter on Moving Day
When the day of the move finally comes around, you will undoubtedly have lots on your plate and might want to get started early. For this reason, it is a good idea to send the kids off to your parents, other members of your family or their close friends the night before.
Being free from the children will enable you to fully focus on coordinating the move with the removalists. It will also ensure the movers are not slowed down by their presence and can load up the van or truck as efficiently as possible.
5. Unpack Your Children’s Items First
When you arrive at your new home, one of the best tactics you can employ is to unpack your children’s toys and clothes first.
The faster you can set up their room, the quicker they will be able to relax in it while you focus on sorting out other important parts of the house, such as the kitchen or the master bedroom.
Ensuring they have their own space to chill out in will go a long way towards keeping them occupied and out of your way for a prolonged period of time.
6. Enjoy Your New Surroundings
You’ll no doubt want to unpack all your boxes and settle in to your new property at the earliest opportunity. But actually, it is a good idea to do this gradually over a few days.
The move will be a huge uprooting for your children, and they will want to spend some quality time with you. So, make sure you do that for them.