Kids and Pets: Tips for a Stress-Free Move

Moving to a new home is an joyful experience, especially if you have kids and pets to share in the thrill! Your kids and animal companions are creatures of habit and ensuring a effortless transition should be top of mind during your move process. Long distance movers will advise you the same thing: getting organized is crucial. The more ready you are in the beginning of your move, the more adjusted and happy your little ones and animal companions will be. Before your local movers start loading up, take a moment to design a moving plan that will work for everyone, and keep the whole family content during your upcoming transition!

Kids

1. Involve Your Children in the Process

One of the best ways to help your kids feel more comfortable with the move is to include them in the moving process. Let them help with packing, or give them the duty of packing their own things. You can also involve them in the planning process by letting them pick the colors for their new rooms or decide on the layout of their rooms. This will give them more control of the situation and help them feel more excited about the move.

2. Keep a Familiar Routine

One of the biggest the biggest challenges of moving with kids is maintaining a sense of normalcy. To help your kids feel more at ease, try to maintain a consistent routine as much as possible. For example, you can still read a bedtime story, enjoy their favorite movie, or have dinner together every night. Keeping a regular routine will help your kids feel more at ease and less stressed about the move.

3. Pack a "Moving Kit" for Your Kids

Preparing a "moving kit" for your children can also help with the move. This kit should include toys, books, and games, as well as a fresh change of clothes and toiletries. Making a moving kit can provide comfort and security. If the long distance movers need a few days to get to your destination, this kit can also give them a distraction while travelling to your new home! If your local moving company is just headed across Ann Arbor, this kit can keep little ones busy while the truck is being packed up or delivered into your new home.

4. Take a Tour of Your New Neighborhood

Prior to you move, bring your kids on a tour of your new community. This can help them feel more familiar and ease the transition. You can also look up fun activities and places to visit in your new town, like local parks, outdoor space, nature reserves, playgrounds, and museums, to help your kids feel more enthusiastic about the move. Get your kids to put together a calendar to plan out some fun activities to serve as a distraction during the move planning process.

5. Talk About What to Expect

Communicating your kids through the process of the move can help them feel more at ease about the process. Before your long distance movers arrive, describe to your kids what they will see. They will see their toys being carried onto a big truck, but it’s just temporary. Show videos explaining how movers load and unpack the trucks, so kids will know where their items are going, and when they’ll them back.

6. Seek Outside Help

Finally, if your kids are having a difficult time settling in to the move, think about seeking the guidance of a trained professional. A mental health professional can help your kids process their thoughts and help them settle into their new surroundings. They can also provide you with practical suggestions on how to help your kids adjust and make the transition as seamless as possible. Sometimes a reliable teacher or family friend can be a great outside helpful ally for kids to spend time with, share their thoughts and gain a sense of security about the upcoming move.

Pets

1. Familiarize Your Pets with the Moving Boxes

Your furry friends can become stressed out when they see boxes and other unfamiliar items around the house. To help them adapt to the changes, start introducing the boxes a few weeks before the move. Let your pets explore the boxes so they become comfortable around them. Feline friends love a great box!

2. Keep Your Pets Routine as Normal as Possible

Just like kids, animal companions also need a sense of familiarity during the move. Try to maintain their daily schedule as close to normal as possible, including feeding times, walks, and play breaks. This will help your pets feel relaxed during the move and mitigate their levels of stress.

3. Plan Ahead for Transportation

If you’re using a long distance moving company, you need to make arrangements for your pets' travel. If you're taking a road trip, make sure to have a safe and cozy place for them in the car. If you're taking a plane, ensure you have all the necessary forms and check out the rules for flying with pets. Even if local movers are taking you across Ann Arbor, a conversation with your pet’s vet before your move can ensure your pets are adjusting well to the change.

4. Update Your Pets' Identification

Prior to the move, make sure your fur babies' identification is recent, including their ID tags, microchips, and any other means of identification. This will ensure that they can be returned to you if they get misplaced during the move.

5. Find Pet-Friendly Accommodations

If you're moving to a new city and your cross-country movers need a few days to make the trip, make sure to find dog-friendly hotels, like pet-friendly hotels, house rentals or pet boarding. Having a safe and comfortable place to lay their heads and stretch their legs during the trip will keep your beloved pets happy after a tiring trip! If you have a temporary housing situation while using a local moving company, asking a friend, relative or person next door to look after your furry friends throughout the move can also be a good plan for keeping pets at ease and content.

6. Give Your Pets Plenty of Attention and Love

Finally, ensure to show your furry friends plenty of attention and love during the move. Take time to be with them, engage in playtime with them, and give them lots of snuggles and cuddles. This will help reduce their stress and anxiety levels.

At Corrigan Moving Systems, we strive to take care of each and every one of our customers' loved ones; fur babies and children included! We realize we aren’t moving items from point A to point B, we’re moving lives. Entrusting us with that task is not something we take for granted. Contact us today to schedule your zero-charge virtual appraisal and see why families have trusted Corrigan for over almost a century.