Moving can be hard. Some families do it more than others. When you do it a lot, you get good at making it go as smoothly as possible. Whether this is your first long distance move or your third, below are some tips for moving with kids. Let's break it down by age-related categories.
Age: 0-5
There are good points and bad points to moving with kids in this age group. Let's go over the pros and cons.
Pro
You do not need to worry about arranging to change schools mid-year. This not only saves you some logistical hassles generally, it also means you are more free to move any time of year, at your convenience.
Especially if one parent is doing the full-time parent thing, you may be able to use the move as a form of built-in vacation. You may
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Especially if one parent is a stay-at-home parent, their primary relationships are likely to be to mom and dad and each other. So their sibling is likely the most important playmate they have and they are going with them. Especially if the kids get along well, this can make moving vastly easier.
Cons
If they are still in diapers or taking bottles, traveling with them can add substantially to your packing burdens. They are not likely to understand what is going on, so when their toys get packed up, they may think they are gone forever. Because of their small size, they need to be fed more frequently, take bathroom breaks more frequently and so on.
Tips
Have them say or wave "Goodbye" to the old house and every hotel you stay in. Do your best to help them understand that you are leaving and they will not see these things again. Make sure to bring their favorite toys, favorite blanket and other critical items with you in
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For example, they may be able to do part of the driving for a long cross country move done by car. They should also be able to pack their own suitcase for traveling with little to no assistance from mom or dad.
Cons
They may have well developed relationships in the current city that they will be loathe to give up. Moving as an adult with their parents may make them feel like a failure. They likely will have to quit a job or change schools to actually go with you.
Tips
Talk to them about what it would take for them stay behind. If at all possible, make that a genuine option for them. Even if they ultimately go with you, they will feel better about it and be more cooperative if they feel they genuinely made a choice.
If they want, let them throw a bon voyage party to help them say "goodbye" to people that matter to them. It can help give them closure and make it easier to move on.
Encourage them to do research into jobs, schools, hobbies and other areas of interest to them in the new city. Help them embrace the idea that they are starting a new life and need to be pro-active about it. They are not just along for the ride with the