Tips for a kid-friendly move
Categories: Fun & activities, Development
We're moving this weekend, from our lovely little starter house to what we assume will be our lovely house the kids will grow up in (it had better be because I am NEVER packing all this stuff again). Right now our house is a disaster; there are boxes piled everywhere and we can't find anything. Good times.
The boys are excited about their new house; we took them with us to the final walk through and they picked out their rooms and marveled at their new playroom. They are thrilled that we found a TWO STORY house (which is apparently the best thing ever when you're seven and five) and they are excited about the "secret tunnel" between their rooms (they have a Jack and Jill bathroom).
But they are also clearly a little nervous. This morning, when I made Charlie's bed, I noticed that his quilt has a hole in it. "After we move," I told him, "we can go look for a new quilt for your room."
"No, Mama," he said, "I don't want ANYTHING new in my room. I just want ALL my old things in the new house."
We're going to do exactly that for now; the kids will keep their existing furniture and linens. But it got me thinking about what I can do to make the move easier for them, to make their new rooms feel a little less scary at bedtime on Saturday night.
And I thought, I'll bet the Internet knows! So tell me: how can I make the transition to the new house less scary and more welcoming for my kids? And tell me quickly, because the movers are coming at 8:00 am Saturday morning.
The boys are excited about their new house; we took them with us to the final walk through and they picked out their rooms and marveled at their new playroom. They are thrilled that we found a TWO STORY house (which is apparently the best thing ever when you're seven and five) and they are excited about the "secret tunnel" between their rooms (they have a Jack and Jill bathroom).
But they are also clearly a little nervous. This morning, when I made Charlie's bed, I noticed that his quilt has a hole in it. "After we move," I told him, "we can go look for a new quilt for your room."
"No, Mama," he said, "I don't want ANYTHING new in my room. I just want ALL my old things in the new house."
We're going to do exactly that for now; the kids will keep their existing furniture and linens. But it got me thinking about what I can do to make the move easier for them, to make their new rooms feel a little less scary at bedtime on Saturday night.
And I thought, I'll bet the Internet knows! So tell me: how can I make the transition to the new house less scary and more welcoming for my kids? And tell me quickly, because the movers are coming at 8:00 am Saturday morning.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ginny 5-31-2007 @ 10:31AM
Unpack the toys first. :)
Reply
Monica 5-31-2007 @ 10:35AM
Plan for one box or suitcase for each kid to be taken in your car. Into it put everything that is critical that they have in order to sleep. Also include some toys/activities that they can use on their own to allow you unpacking time.
I would also suggest one adult being around for the movers, while another takes the kids somewhere. We moved a lot when I was a kid and I always hated seeing strange people carrying out stuff around.
Set up the furniture in the kids rooms first. If they're not sleeping you're not sleeping anyway :)
Kitchen is the next priority after a place to sleep, but plan to eat out that night, and maybe send someone out to retrieve a nutritionally suspect, but special treat type breakfast. Pack a box in the kitchen of critical items for lunch type preparation. Bread, peanut butter and a new jar of jam were my mom's emergency kit, along with glasses, knives, paper towels, a pitcher and a couple packages of kool aid. Nothing that needs refridgeration, yet a complete and happy kid meal :)
Enlist the kids help in setting up their things in their new rooms.
Plan to take breaks from unpacking and setting up to explore the neighborhood with them. It won't take away from your unpacking time because you will have less interruptions if they know they have a time to head out and look around. Use your exploration time to set limits ie, "you can walk to here without me" if they are used to doing that in your current house.
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Leian 5-31-2007 @ 10:38AM
Gee, I don't have any tried and true tips - we're still just trying to get our daughter into her own room, and given that it's downstairs from ours, I can understand her reluctance (we have no choice our room takes up one whole floor). But I think your son hit the nail on the head - keep the familiar going for a while. The routines, the things they own. Things that we may not even think about, or think are "improvements" like painting in a new color, may make the whole thing feel more surreal and unfamiliar to them. I'd just take their cues, letting them guide you to what they can deal with and what they can't, and be prepared with an extra dose of patience. Keep things the same that can be kept the same and things that have to be changed, like a room setup that can't be duplicated, let them have a say in. And have fun with it - on the first night do a picnic on the floor amongst the boxes with takeout. Let them run amok around the house and begin to "own" it. Just be free and easy in the beginning and hopefully they'll settle in in good time.
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Tricia 5-31-2007 @ 11:10AM
We went through this in February and I learned one VERY important thing.
ALWAYS bring along in your own car the "comfort" items for bedtime (blankies, stuffed animals and MUSIC).
I had thought we were in good shape. But I packed my 2 yr old daughter's CD that she listens to before going to bed. I had her blankies, her "ra-ra" but it was that stupid CD that she cried for.
We stayed at my sister's for two nights in between the move out of the old house and the move into our new house (which is 4 houses down from my sister).
In actuality I didn't realize it was the CD until after the millionth time she asked to go "home". The FIRST box I opened was her radio. At 1:00pm she sat on the floor of our new family room and listened to her music, hugging her ra-ra. The next thing was setting up her crib.
And suddenly it was home again.
Reply
Rachel May 5-31-2007 @ 11:17AM
I agree with pp -- except that I would add to get all of the beds set up and made and the shower curtains hung before you do anything else. Be sure you've packed an overnight bag for each person, including toiletries and a clean change of clothes. That way, you all can take a shower and have a place to crash when you're exhausted that evening.
I also agree with getting the kids' rooms set up and toys unpacked first. That gives them a place to go to get out from under your feet while you get other stuff done. At their ages, they may be able to help unpack the toys, even if it means just getting them out of the boxes and onto the floor so they can play with them -- and by "them", I mean the boxes, of course!
I think somebody else already said it, but it's also a good idea to have a box or cooler with snacks and drinks handy. That way you're not having to drop everything and run to the corner store because it's snack time.
Congratulations on your new home!
Reply
Cathy 5-31-2007 @ 10:26PM
I bought them each a new Webkinz stuffed toy that they had been wanting, and I put it on their bed minutes before they got into bed. It kept them from getting out of bed b/c I promised them some computer time the next day to adopt them if they stayed in bed and cuddled their new dog/horse. Bribery?
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