The thing is that if you haven’t packed for a move before, the whole packing process may seem pretty straightforward – you just toss random things into random boxes and use packing tape to seal those containers.
Ta-da! And you’re done packing.
Only, you’re not.
Packing an entire home for moving is a monstrously complicated task that should not be underestimated in any way – it takes forever to complete and, together with choosing a professional moving service, it is the most important task in your personal moving checklist.
If you happen to be moving house with children, then the packing job becomes even more complex because of the extra set of things to worry about, things like how to pack your children’s items and how to guarantee your kids’ safety.
Packing a house with children around can be quite a challenge but, like every other move-related task, it’s also manageable… as long as you know how to approach it.
Read on to learn the best way to pack for a move with children around the house.
Give yourself a good head start
Whether you already know it or not, packing for a move is the most time-consuming task in anyone’s moving calendar. Therefore, one of the best decisions you can make early on is to start packing the things you plan on taking with you as soon as possible.
The head start you secure can be very useful later on when you’re bound to experience plenty of untimely interruptions, which will inevitably slow down the entire packing process. The thing is that your children will require frequent care and attention so you won’t be able to dedicate yourself to the packing task as fully as you’d like to.
When moving house with children, the thing to remember is that it’s never too early to start working on a project, especially when that project is scheduled to take up whatever time you have until the move-out date.
Must-read: How to pack a kids’ room for moving
Explain the packing concept to your kids
As a rule, children are very sensitive to change, so your kids will notice that something unusual and even strange is going on even before they catch a glimpse of those empty cardboard boxes. So, consider it a high-priority task to explain to your kids the concept of moving house, and in particular – why you’re going through their things and placing some of them into boxes.
Depending on the exact age of your kids, they might think that when their favorite toys and games and books and clothes are packed into those cardboard boxes, they will never ever see their things again. And such a thought would definitely upset and even scare some of them.
Take the time to explain to your little ones that whatever items go inside those boxes will come out in the new home perfectly intact and ready to use again. Tell them that those “magic” containers will protect their treasured belongings during the house move.
Good to know: How moving house affects children
Keep children involved in the packing process
One excellent way to pack up your home when moving with children is to get your kids involved in the packing process – as long as they are old enough to handle what you ask of them, of course.
Letting your children give you a hand when packing for a move will serve a couple of important purposes at the same time:
- they will feel that they are an essential part of the house moving process and their opinions and wishes will be taken into account, and
- their help will make packing the kids’ room and all the stuff in it easier and faster.
See also: 5 Ways children can help during a move
Your children can and should help you pack the home in a couple of key ways:
- Sorting out and paring down their things. There’s really no need to pack and move things that your kids won’t play with or use again after the move. Together with your kids, sit down and go through their things, item by item, in order to determine which ones will be moved, which ones will be donated, and which ones will be thrown away for recycling.
- Packing up whatever they can by themselves. Books, board games and soft goods like plush toys are really easy and safe to pack, so encourage your children to pack them up… but not before you show them how it’s done first. The thing is that you could use all the packing assistance you can get.
Good to know: How to pack toys for moving
Pack essentials boxes for your kids
Packing up a house when your kids are around can be tricky because they will want to play with their things as long as they can. And that is why you need to plan the packing task in such a way as to save their favorite things – toys, games, etc. – for last. By that time, you should know how essential it is to keep your children’s routine as unchanged as possible so that they remain in their comfort zone – calm and safe.
Of course, you should pre-pack all the things you know your kids won’t need before you’re all safe and sound in the new place, but very shortly before Moving day itself, remember to pack essentials boxes for each child and then make sure you take those survival kits with you as opposed to handing them over to your professional movers.
Fill up those survival kits with absolute essentials that your kids will need on the road, as well as right before and right after the move day. Depending on the age, those essentials can include anything from diapers, wet wipes and baby food to high-tech gadgets such as tablets, smartphones, music players, and so on.
Read also: What to pack in an essentials box
Keep things safe for your little ones
Packing up a home with children around could become dangerous in the blink of an eye. The move-out day presents the widest range of dangers for your little ones but the days leading up to it can be dangerous as well.
Don’t let your guard down, not even for a second!
While cardboard alone is very safe for kids and pets alike and can offer many hours of fun and entertainment for your children while you pack away, bubble wrap and stretch wrap are plastic materials that could be a choking hazard. Also, packing peanuts are not safe to be played with as they can be swallowed accidentally.
The sad truth is that potential hazards lurk from anywhere when it comes to young children who don’t really know yet how to keep themselves from harm’s way. Stacked boxes could get toppled over in an instant and cause injuries, while something so innocent looking like a packing tape dispenser has a really sharp cutting edge and could hurt somebody who’s not careful enough.
When moving with children, you must do all in your power to keep your loved ones safe throughout each stage of the house moving process, including during the arduous task of packing for a move.
The safety and well-being of your children must be your top priority no matter what happens. So, if you happen to be struggling for enough time to guarantee their protection from the dangers of the house move, then do the right thing and call in professional packers and movers who will assist you any way they can.
