Category Archives: moving and children

children in a wagon

Things to Consider When Moving With Children

Apartment Moving, long distance moving, Move Management, moving and children

Moving can be stressful for adults who are juggling a long list of things that need to be accomplished including packing, arranging for the move, gathering records and paperwork, and possibly prepping for a  new job. There are a million-and-one small details that need to be handled before the big moving day arrives. 

Now imagine, for a moment, being a young child whose entire world revolves around their friends and the routine that they have established in school. Moving for the school aged child is a major transition and can be extremely tough both emotionally and socially. As parents, there are some things you can do to help smooth the transition and make the event less stressful. 

happy girl in field

Set the Tone 

Parents often set the tone for whatever is going on in the family. A move is no different, regardless of whether you are buying a home in your same neighborhood, or moving clear across the country. 

Keep things honest, but optimistic. Every change brings an impact, both positive and negative. Be sure to discuss what is particularly worrisome for your child, but also what they may be looking forward to such as a larger room, better yard, closer to family, or vicinity to parks and entertainment/activities. It’s ok to acknowledge the inherent difficulties of switching schools while still remaining positive about the move in general. 

Give Your Child Some Control 

Some stress in life comes from a feeling like you can not control the things around you. Give your child some control by providing opportunities to make some choices. For example, if there’s an option of which school to attend in your new neighborhood, let your child visit each of them and make the decision themselves. If there’s only one school choice, give them control in smaller ways, such as letting them pick out their new backpack and school supplies. 

At your new home, let your child choose a wall color to paint their room, or decorations that are new to start the school year with a fresh new look. If your child is old enough to do some of the packing or unpacking on their own, let them do that to give them control of what goes where in the new house. 

boy playing soccer

Set Up Activities 

Moving often means that sport teams and after school activities are left behind, along with friendships that have been built. In order to get your child back into the swing of things in your new home, check with their new school about what activities are available that will present opportunities for new friendships to blossom. 

Talk to your city or town about the local sports programs that take place throughout the year. The recreation department is always a good place to start as they will have contact names and numbers as well as a list of activities that would be appropriate for your child. 
As you begin to plan your move, talk to our team at Mastodon Moving about how we can help make your transition to a new home go smoothly for all the members of your family. Check out our Facebook page for more tips and ideas.

labeled boxes

Realtor Tips About the Moving Process

Apartment Moving, downsizing, Home Moving, long distance moving, Move Management, moving and children, Packing Tips

 

Moving can be the start of a new adventure, but the actual moving process can be a bit daunting if you don’t get organized and have some help along the way. Realtors have been helping harried homeowners prepare for the moving process for decades, so they are a great resource to gain helpful hints and advice about how to make the process go smoothly. 

Clear it Out and Pack Light 

broom-1837434__340One of the first things your real estate agent will tell you when you are prepping your house to go on the market is to declutter and clear out any unnecessary items from your house. This serves several purposes. For one, it will clean out any stuff that is laying around that could make the area look cluttered and overcrowded. Plus, taking down personal items will make it much easier for a new family to be able to picture themselves and their “stuff” in the space. Additionally, it will make packing much easier if there is less volume to pack into a moving van. 

Many homeowners find that decluttering is a huge task that can be overwhelming. Some find it easier to separate items into donate, sell, and trash piles in order to make the process go faster. There are many programs in our area that will take used furniture, gently worn clothing, and household items. For example, GoodWill, Salvation Army, the Epilepsy Foundation, or Big Brother Big Sister have free programs that will come right to your door to pick up donations. As an added bonus there is a tax deduction that can be taken every year for material donations. 

Hire A Mover 

home-3370178__340 (1)Realtors know that there are many components to moving that need to come together seamlessly. Having a professional mover can take the mental and physical weight off a family who want to get packing, moving, and settled in a short period of time. Movers can ensure that all valuables are carefully wrapped and crated for moving so they arrive safely to your new home. Having a moving team also means that you are free to direct where you want furniture placed or even where to unpack the dishes, clothing, or special items. Hiring a mover can be a game-changer when it comes to staying on task and on-time for your move. 

Transfer Utilities Before the Move 

Before you make the big move, make a list of all your utilities and get going on changing over your services to the new house. This will ensure that you’ll have the proper functions up and running by the time you arrive. This can include internet, electric, gas, cable, mail delivery, recycling programs, and possibly garbage collection. Don’t forget to also change your mailing address and notify all of your credit cards of the address change. Doing this earlier rather than later can help keep you organized and pay your bills on time. Plus, who wants to arrive at their new home and not have television access during the first week?

Are you planning a move and need help packing, moving, and unpacking? Mastodon Moving offers many services including long-distance moves, moving high-value items, packing/unpacking, and storage options. Call us if you would like to schedule a walkthrough of your items and we can help you begin your next adventure. 

Helping Your Child Adjust to a Move

Apartment Moving, Home Moving, long distance moving, Move Management, moving and children

Moving has been scientifically proven to be one of the top stressors in anyone’s lives. Don’t believe us? Take it from the experts at American Institute of Stress and the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory that indicates that a change in living conditions is extraordinarily stressful. As a life-changing event, it is no surprise that moving ranks highly on their list. 

Not only are there constant worries about the actual physical move, but also the adjustment to a new location, job, schools, and friend groups. The unknowns are countless when moving to somewhere new. 

This stress is evident whenever we meet with clients arranging for movers to facilitate the event. We also see the stress in the children who don’t have a whole lot of control over the moving and adjusting process. That’s why we have put together this quick guide to help your child adjust to a move, whether it is across the country or across town. 

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Express Feelings 

While a child may not have a lot of input into whether a move will take place or not, they should be allowed to express their feelings – good and bad. Depending on the age of the child there may be concerns about losing friendships, changing schools, and adjusting to a new community. Give your kids a chance to talk about their worries, concerns, or fears. Sometimes, that alone will make them feel better. Talk about each issue and how you can handle it as a family or what other people do who find themselves in similar situations. 

When talking with your child, be sure to talk about your feelings as well. Explain both the positive exciting aspects of making a move: the fresh start, a new city, new friends, new experiences as well as the things that you are worried about. Knowing that they are not alone in having these feelings can help. 

Visit Before the Move 

The unknown can be a scary thing, so be sure to get rid of as many unknowns as you can. Visit your new community if possible. Check out the schools, shadow another student, find out where shopping is, get the lay of the land, and find new places that you love to eat and play. While you may not have time to visit all the places that will make your child feel like they belong, you can hit some highlights like a local park, zoo, museum, or library. For older tweens and teens, find some of the activities that they like in your new community. If your child is into sports, check out the new fields at their school. The more you can help your child visualize fitting in and enjoying the move, the better. 

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Maintain Contact With Old Community 

Many children, especially older children who have long-lasting friendships, need to know that they are not cutting ties completely. Remind them about technology such as Facetime, phones, texting, and through gaming devices, that they can stay in communication with old friends. In today’s digital world, breaking ties does not have to happen. Schedule visits to maintain those friendships and allow transition time for your child. 

You know your child best, so be flexible to help them adjust to a move that can be stressful on everyone involved. Try not to let your stress rub off on your children or add a negative aspect to the move. 

If you need help packing/unpacking or with the move itself, remember that Mastodon Moving specializes in moving your family long distance or down the street. Give us a call at 774-421-9004 or visit our website.