The challenges of moving with kids in New York
If you have ever moved, you know that some things you hear about relocation are true. For instance, packing is painfully boring and everyone knows that. However, another thing that we often hear is that moving is especially hard on children. And unfortunately, that is also a truth. Kids are emotional and fragile beings so things like this have a much bigger impact on them than on us. On the other hand, moving with kids in New York doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad experience if you plan everything as you should. We’ve made a list of things that can and will help you and your children during the relocation process.
Start early
One of the first challenges that you’ll encounter is getting and staying organized during your move. You know that if you want everything to go smoothly, you need to have a plan and prepare well. However, when moving with kids in New York this can be a little bit tricky. The only free time that you have is when kids are asleep. But it is very difficult to pick the right neighborhood before moving to NYC if you’re exhausted by watching over the kids whole day.
All of this leads us to the point. The only way you can finish everything on time is to start early. Now, we know that this doesn’t sound like mindblowing advice, but it is incredibly important. The ideal time to start preparing is as soon as you’re sure that you’re going to move. Or, at least give yourself two months to prepare when relocating with kids. This way, you can break down your move into smaller, but more easily achievable tasks.
Get help when moving with kids in New York
One challenge that you’ll encounter a lot in the next few weeks of the preparation is making sure that your kids are safe while you’re preparing the move. It’s a pretty much impossible task to watch the kids and prepare for moving your entire household at the same time. This is why you need to ask for help.
Don’t be stubborn and try to do everything on your own. Find a person that will spend time with your kids while you’re taking care of everything regarding the relocation. There are other ways too. You can always hire a full-service moving company. They’ll do literally everything for you and the only thing you have to worry about is signing the paperwork. However, this kind of service comes with a hefty price tag.
Be patient
As you already know, when kids are overwhelmed – they act out. It’s not something that they do to deliberately get on your nerves. It’s just a child’s brain. The reaction can be anything from crying to categorically refusing to move. And whatever it is, you want to cut it in the roots.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to stay calm. And not only when your kid is acting out. You need to be calm during the whole process. Kids are intuitive beings and they can feel what you feel just by looking at you. We, as adults know how to deal with moving stress that NYC relocation brings with it, but children don’t. So, you can see why it is crucial to stay calm, relaxed, and patient during the relocation. Everything will come to its place.
Get them involved
If your kids are old enough to go to school, they’re old enough to help you with the relocation. Now, this is a good thing for a few reasons. Firstly, if you give your child to do some work regarding the move, it will feel involved. It will feel like it is a part of everything and therefore it will accept it much more easily.
Of course, you don’t have to and shouldn’t give them a task that asks for responsibility or knowledge. Have them label or color-code the boxes, pack their toys, or sort out their clothes by seasons. This way you’ll both have someone to help you pack efficiently and your kids will love that they’re part of the process.
Plan fun activities once the relocation is done
Big Apple is the place where there are a lot of fun things you can do with your children. Our professionals from State to State Move strongly advise to use that when moving with kids in New York. Plan to visit the Ferris Wheel, Coney Island, Bronx Zoo, and Central Park. Talk with your kids and find out what they would like to do when they arrive at the new home. If your kids are a little bit older, they will enjoy museums and art galleries. And luckily for you, NYC is full of them.
Throw a farewell party before you move
Moving away doesn’t need to be connected with sad and difficult times. Especially in your child’s head. Instead of crying because of the move, embrace it and celebrate it. You need to understand that your kids are basically copying you at all times. So if you’re going around the house complaining that you’re leaving all of your friends behind, they’ll do the same. That is one of the reasons why relocation with children is so difficult, and also the reason why you need to be extra careful what you’re talking about while they’re around.
However, you’re moving to the most amazing city in the whole world. And if you manage to save money on your NYC relocation, there are even more reasons for the celebration. Call all of your friends and family and have a joyful and colorful evening with all of them. The farewell party doesn’t need to be anything special. It just needs to be enough that your kids realize that moving is the occasion for celebration.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you’re probably going to be exhausted after moving with kids in New York. However, if you do everything by the book, you will be happy, as well as your children. Unpack their stuff first so they can feel at home as soon as you enter the new house, and enjoy the beginning of your new life.