Packing With Kids

No matter the age, moving can be emotionally and physically draining. E.E. Ward Storage and Moving Co. has the tips and tricks needed to soothe the moving process. Unfortunately there are some variables that come with no easy solution. Having to relocate can be hard on everyone; this is especially true when it comes to the little ones. Children can create extra responsibilities which in turn add to the stress load. Fear not, there are productive and fun ways to gain the most help from your children.

Play Games

The act of moving is never entertaining. Your kids will lose the motivation to pack at exponential rates; leaving you more work and stress. For this reason, it is very important to create packing games for the youngsters. If old enough, start off by having them pack away their items. To make it easier, have the boxes or containers labeled and ready. Give them a time limit and whoever is packed first is the winner. Offer a prize that you know will motivate your children the most. State some guidelines, explain that points will be deducted for reasons like messy packing job or items put away in the wrong box. This will ensure that your children will perform a quality job and work at a speedy pace.

Give Tasks

Playing games may not always work; but that is nothing to strut about. The older they are, the more responsibility they will want. Doing a job that is neither challenging nor satisfying is always followed by low motivation. If your child is old enough, give a task that makes them feel like they are contributing. Put them in charge of labeling, carrying and loading the boxes, or the checklist. The more they perceive to be a part of the move, the more entertained they will be. Everyone wants the sense of importance; one’s age makes no difference.

Talk it Out

Moving can be difficult on everyone, the further the move the tougher it can be. Depending on the age, your children might be leaving people that are very important to them. May that be their friends or family, this could be a very emotional event for them. I know this from experience; when I was 10 my family and I had to move from Massachusetts to Ohio. Even though we were only a couple hours plane ride away; the thought of leaving all my friends and family was very tough to swallow. It is very important to be upfront with them, do not let much time pass. The longer you wait to announce the news, the less they feel a part of the plan. An emotional child can put stress on not only the process of packing, but your overall relationship. They may not be old enough to truly understand, but in time they will come to terms with the news and move forward with the affair.

There are plenty of ways to involve children of all ages in the moving process. Keeping things light and fun, at all times, is a must. It does not matter if you are five or forty, throwing on some music and being playful is always a recipe for fun. When your kids are given tasks they can keep busy with, their work production will increase while their complaint numbers will decrease. May that be some friendly competition against their sibling, or jobs that give them a sense of value. Staying occupied and productive is the name of the game. It is imperative that you talk to your children about the situation. Find out what their feelings are about it, and assure them everything will be all right. My parents told me about the move early and showed me the new house we would be living in; along with fun places I can go for activities. This did not make everything better; however it did make it seem less scary. Most importantly be extra sure to keep the whole process safe, not only for your children but you as well.

****Fun ways to unpack with your children will be coming soon. Make sure to keep checking back at blog.eeward.com for this article and plenty other ways to move with ease. ****