MOVING TIPS
Moving with Kids: A Parent's Guide to a Calmer Move
Simple ways to help your children feel safe, included and settled from the first conversation to the first night in the new house.
A move is a big deal for kids. Grown-ups see a new job, more space or a better neighborhood. Children see their bedroom in boxes, their friends staying behind and a lot of change they didn’t pick. Even little ones notice the stress in the house, and older kids can feel it most.
The good news is that a few thoughtful steps make a real difference. Kids handle change better when they know what’s coming, have a small job to do and still get their normal bedtime story or Friday pizza night. We’re a family business with kids of our own, and we’ve watched plenty of families get through moving day with smiles instead of tears.
Below are the tips we share most with parents, from the first talk to the first night in the new place. If you want to take the heavy lifting off your plate so you can focus on the kids, A & M Friendly Movers can handle the packing, the furniture and the truck while you handle the hugs.
Our Top Tips for Moving with Kids
1. Tell Them Early and Honestly
Share the news as soon as the move is certain, and do it together as a family. Keep it simple for young children: where you’re going, when, and that everyone is coming along. Give older kids the real reasons and let them ask questions, even hard ones. Expect some sadness or anger and let it be okay. Check in again over the following weeks, because questions often come later, once the idea sinks in.
2. Give Every Child a Job
Kids feel less powerless when they have a say. Let them pick a paint color or bedding for the new room, help choose which toys to donate, or decorate their own boxes with markers and stickers. Older kids can research the new town’s parks, pools and places to eat. Small choices add up to a feeling of ownership, and a child who helped plan the move is usually a lot more excited to arrive.
3. Protect the Daily Routine
When the house is full of boxes, routines are what make kids feel steady. Keep mealtimes, naps, bedtime and screen rules as close to normal as you can, even in the last crazy week. Keep a few favorite family rituals going, like a weekend pancake breakfast or a nightly book. Once you arrive, get those same routines running right away so the new house starts to feel like home.
4. Pack Their Room Last
Leave your children’s rooms for the very end of packing, so their space stays familiar as long as possible. When you do pack it, let them help and label their boxes clearly with their name and a color. On the other end, unpack and set up their rooms first, beds made and a few favorite things on the shelf. Our packing tips page has more ideas for labeling.
5. Plan Childcare for Moving Day
Moving day is busy, with doors propped open, heavy furniture on dollies and a truck ramp in the driveway. It’s safest for young kids to spend the day with a grandparent, friend or sitter. If they need to be home, set up one quiet room with snacks, a tablet and a closed door, and have one adult in charge of them. Our crews will gladly wave hello, but little ones and furniture moving don’t mix.
6. Make School Transitions Easier
Call the new school early to ask about enrollment, records and any paperwork you’ll need. If you can, visit before the first day so your child can see the building, find the classroom and meet a teacher. Ask the old school for copies of report cards and any special plans. When timing allows, many parents like moving over a summer or school break, but a mid-year move can work well with a little extra support.
Quick Checklist for Parents
Pack a First-Night Box
Fill one box per child with pajamas, a change of clothes, toothbrush, a favorite stuffed animal, a nightlight, a book and a small snack. Keep it in your car, not the truck, so bedtime on night one feels normal even before anything else is unpacked.
Say Proper Goodbyes
Give kids a chance to say goodbye to friends, neighbors and favorite spots. Take photos around the old house, collect phone numbers or addresses, and plan a video call for the first few weeks so friendships don't just disappear overnight.
Explore the New Neighborhood
In the first week, walk or drive around together to find the closest park, library, ice cream shop and playground. Sign up for one activity your child already loves, like a sport or club, so they have a place to start meeting new friends.
Watch for Big Feelings
Some kids take a few weeks or even a few months to adjust. Sleep changes, clinginess or grumpiness are common. Stay patient, keep talking, and reach out to your pediatrician or school counselor if you're worried about how your child is coping.
Moving with Kids FAQs
As soon as the move is definite, ideally a few weeks to a couple of months ahead. Young children don’t need a long countdown, but they do need time to get used to the idea. Older kids and teens appreciate hearing it early so they can plan goodbyes. Avoid letting them overhear it from someone else first, and share the news together as a family.
For babies, toddlers and young children, it’s usually safest and easiest to have them spend the day with a relative, friend or sitter. Moving day means open doors, heavy furniture, ramps and a lot of foot traffic. Older kids can be a real help with small tasks if they want to be. See what to expect on moving day so you can plan.
Listen first and don’t try to talk them out of their feelings. Teens are often losing friends, teams and routines they worked hard to build. Give them real choices about their new room and schedule, help them stay in touch with friends, and find a club, team or job in the new town early. Give it time, and stay patient if the adjustment is slow.
Pack pajamas, a change of clothes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, a nightlight, a couple of books and some snacks. Add any daily items your child needs. Keep the box in your car so it arrives with you, and open it first thing so bedtime feels familiar even when the rest of the house is still in boxes.
Yes. A & M Friendly Movers offers full and partial packing and unpacking, so we can pack the whole house or just the rooms you don’t have time for. Many parents pack their kids’ treasures themselves and let us do the rest. We also take apart and put back together beds, cribs and bunk beds at no extra charge.
Local moves are billed hourly in 15-minute increments with a 3-hour minimum, and the clock starts when the crew arrives at your home. Furniture disassembly, reassembly and wrapping are included. Payment is taken after the move is done. For a price on your move, call us or request a free quote and an owner or our office will call you back.
Let Us Handle the Heavy Lifting
You’ve got enough on your mind keeping the kids happy. Let A & M Friendly Movers pack, load and set up the beds so you can focus on your family. We’re family-owned, and our background-checked crews treat your home like their own. Call 717-434-6711 or request your free quote today, and you’ll talk to an owner, not a call center.
Ready to start your stress-free move? Contact us today to Get a free moving quote and let the A & M family make your moving experience a delightful one!