Tips For Moving House With Kids In Newcastle

Moving house can be very stressful for even the most organised person. We know! But moving house as a family with young children is even more difficult. 

In this post we summarise some tips to make moving day and the transition to a new home in Newcastle a smooth one for your whole family. 

​In Advance Of Moving Day

​Well before the boxes are packed and the removalist truck arrives, it can be valuable to keep your child informed of the background to the move, ensuring they understand:

• When you're moving e.g. 15 sleeps from now, or in some other way your child will understand.
• Why you're moving e.g. so you have more room, so you can start at a great school, so you'll be closer to family etc. Make the reasons relevant and understandable for your child so they can draw some excitement from the process too.
• Explain everything that's coming with you in the move. This can help make your child more comfortable if they're aware that their bed, drawers, toys, artworks etc are all coming with you to the new home. This way things will seem familiar and less scary!
• Where you're moving to. Younger children won't be so invested in the actual address, but you could show them the home and location on Google Maps for example, so they can see how close they are to the park, the movies, the beach, their new school, ice cream shops or cafes to try. Showing them images of the new home can also help them visualise what it will be like when they arrive, such as where they might play in the yard, what the trees and street look like, and more. 

​Preparing For Moving Day

​One of the best ways to keep your child interested rather than nervous about the move is to involve them in the process of preparing for moving day. It can let feel more like something they're a part of, rather than something that is happening to them. 

Some examples of ways to do this include:

• Take lots of photos along the way. Take photos before you start packing, as packing progresses, and of your empty home before you move out. This will help to capture some great memories of the "old" place, while more positively providing a sense of accomplishment of all they work you did together to plan for the move.
• Packing needs snacking! Try having an assortment of your child's (and your) favourite snacks to help get through the process, and/or take them with you for a cheeky take away collection or to pick up a soft drink, juice or milkshake for a treat.
• Giving your child some packing goals to help prepare for or complete the packing. For younger children not likely to do a great job of packing their things (!), you could simply ask them to try tidying their area to make it easier for you to pack.
• While packing is happening, make things fun! Put on a music playlist including songs your child likes, to keep the mood up and so things feel more like fun than work. 
• Make the breaks from packing fun as well. Your child could catch an episode of their favourite show on a phone or iPad in between helping out, or you could stop with them for a quick game or to talk about what they'd like to help with next. 

​On Moving Day

​Depending on the age of your child, the following tips can help on moving day itself:

• Consider whether it would be best to have your child with you while the removalists (or your friends!) are working on the move, or whether it would be best to have your child looked after by family or at a friend's house. Remember that moving can be stressful and potentially dangerous for little ones to be around, especially if they are likely to become bored with you are heavily distracted.
• If it's best for your child to not be with you during the move-out, have a think about an activity they could do with friends or relatives while the move is happening. If you're relocating within Newcastle or Lake Macquarie itself, you may consider a trip to the beach, a bushwalk at Glenrock, a walk by Lake Macquarie, a trip to the movies, or another fun activity to distract and while away the time while you're working.
• If your child is with you throughout the day, remember to have plenty of their favourite snacks to eat and drink. Kids can tend to get extra hungry when they're not sure what to do, so a plan for this is a great idea!
• Plan your "arrival boxes". These are the items you want to have most handy when you first arrive at the new home, and you'll want to have these in easy-to-find, well-labelled boxes. Things to include: toilet paper, water cups or glasses, plates (even paper plates for an easy start), a few hand towels, and of course the must-have toys for your child. 
• When you arrive, unpack your children's items first, so they can feel as settled as possible in their new room and home. 

​Saying Goodbye To The "Old" Home

​Moving home is very emotional for everyone. Children are no exception to this. To help with "moving on" and to put a positive spin on the change to a new house, consider the following:

• As mentioned previously, take plenty of photos of the old place before leaving, as a positive reminder of the memories shared there.
• Say goodbye to close neighbours and friends you will miss, before leaving. 
• Remember to collect phone numbers, email addresses as well as mailing addresses of neighbours and friends you would all like to keep in touch with. If your child is old enough, you could provide them an address book to record these in themselves. Staying connected in some way to the familiar past can help provide comfort with the new stage. 
• If possible, consider a keepsake to take from your old property to your new home. This could be a tree cutting to plant on arrival at the new home, some special rocks or garden ornaments, or some other reminder to connect the past to the new place. 

​The New Start

Following the madness of the move:

• Try to return to established family routines as soon as possible. 
• Involve your child in plans to discover your new area. Find local parks to explore, learn where school and other soon-to-be familiar places are, make time to visit Lake Macquarie and the beaches of Newcastle, go for a walk along the Newcastle Foreshore or ANZAC Memorial Walk, find a fun kid-friendly cafe to enjoy together.
• Remember to keep in touch with happy memories and connections from the past, as well as creating new ones.

Good luck, and happy moving! 🚚