Brainwash
Babies and toddlers understand a whole lot more than we think. Use this to your advantage and start talking about the new house way before the moving date. Focus on one asset of the new house and make it a big deal. I've been promoting the flat's staircase to the Toddler. He found a new favourite pastime; steps.
Ask for a tiny bit of help
Toddlers, unlike teenagers, are happy to help with the housework. Ask your little one to help you pack the toys. Although it's more likely the help will consist of unpacking what you pack, show your appreciation and encourage your little helper. This is a nice way to make them feel involved in the moving process and make the moving easier for them.
Call the Moving Fairy
A great and easy way to make your children love their new bedroom is to surprise them with a new toy and lots of balloons, courtesy of the Moving Fairy, of course. The Toddler is currently going through the boat phase and was thrilled when he discovered a fisherman's boat in his new room.
Get babysitting
Keep your cool
Moving house is a pretty daunting process for adults too. Letting go of a house and of all the memories that come with it and making a fresh start in an unknown space is not the easiest thing in the world. But you have to put on your brave face and not let your kid sense your feelings, otherwise you're doomed - to put it mildly.
Love fresh starts
Plan a fun activity in the new house immediately after the move - unpacking can wait. This could be gardening, baking a cake to celebrate the move, inviting friends over - for drinks, not to help you unpack. Show your kid that letting go is a normal process in life and that fresh starts are exciting and fun!
Read More
Love this post and very timely read for me as we are set to relocate from New Zealand - and our home of 14 years - to the USA in a couple of months. We have 3 daughters - the youngest is three.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah,
DeleteThank you so much. Hope your relocation goes as smoothly as possible!
I like the brainwashing!
ReplyDeleteThis is all good advice.
And it works too!
DeleteI use it a lot :)
@ I have read the post and the information which you have shared that is really good and useful.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteWe're moving on Saturday but thankfully our LO is only 12 weeks old so I'm hoping it won't phase her! At least we don't have to worry about her unpacking all the packed things!! The true challenge will come wen we start trying to move her into her own room, might hold off on that for a little while longer! #PoCoLo
ReplyDeleteOh my, the "own room" challenge. Baby Lu didn't like that (we spent a few sleepless nights) but in the end got used to it and now he loves it. All the best with your move!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and, yes, you're right, teenagers and housework are contradicting notions!
DeleteTiny bit help is more important when we are doing a moving process. So I think this advice is more useful for all parents.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, this definitely makes packing and moving experience a lot more organized with kids!
ReplyDeleteI read in Parenting US that making the children involved in the packing process could give them initiative when it comes to organization and responsibility in all. Definitely, "Keep your cool" goes hand in hand here.
ReplyDeleteWe are a removalist company and we've seen this happening , Kids aged between 3 to 12 yrs. are more hesitant of changing what they are accustomed to. I will certainly share above mentioned practices with my clients to make the move easy for their kids.
ReplyDeleteHahaha lol, the brainwashing part is really smart! I am working at moving company and the reaction of the parents to moving process really really matters!
ReplyDelete