Make Moving Fun for Your Family

Moving – just the idea of it can get your mood down, especially if you have already moved and you know how much there is to do and how difficult it could be. Well, even though this may be true, don’t let worry take over you. You can include a few simple, easy extra things to do as part of your daily regime that are guaranteed to make you and everyone around you smile. If you have the the right approach and the appropriate moving company by hand things are sure to go smooth and – of course – fun. Here are a few interesting things I collected to help you make your moving fun for you, your kids and your family.

How can you have fun when moving?

• Asking for a quote is one of the first big steps in the moving process along with the decision to relocate – and that is where your fun planning begins!
• Listen to cheerful music! Make a couple of CD’s with music everyone is going to love – whether it be classic, pop or other – anything that can make your mood go up, and play it on while packing. You can make a compilation of your favorite artist’s or band’s songs or just an album you really enjoy. Packing is never going to be as boring. You can listen to some music while packing and sing along. Best would be if you play songs that everyone in your family likes and knows – and you will go back to the packing period as a time with a lot of fun.
• Keep up your favorite things all along the moving period – favorite snacks, places to go, movies to watch, etc., try not to deprive yourself or anyone around you of them, especially the children.
• When the moving day approaches have some drinks and snacks handy. It will be good for you if you need some energy and for your helpers, too, if there are going to be any. Having some for your movers will help them when they feel exhausted and loading up the truck is not going to be as tiresome.
• Have a farewell party. Saying “goodbye” doesn’t need to be upsetting. When the time of your moving day approaches you can throw a party and invite your friends, relatives and neighbors. Moving is a good occasion to remind yourself of the nice time you have had with the people around you.
• Get to know your new neighborhood. In between getting your inventory list done and choosing the right mover take some time to research the area around your new living place. See where the cinema is, nice places appropriate for a family dinner, kids’ playgrounds and the locations of things you like to do and places you feel well when visiting. You can print a map of the area and mark those places on it. When you have moved to your new home you won’t stay bored and all throughout the moving you will feel good knowing new and interesting things to do are waiting ahead of you!
• For the time of traveling prepare some games. Also take some snacks and drinks, toys for the kids, a blanket and a couple of pillows in case someone wants to get some sleep.
• After the moving is over don’t forget to reward yourself. Go somewhere for a day or two – picnic, beach or mountain, anything you and your partner would enjoy. You can spend some time relaxing from the hard work you have had in the last weeks and restore your strength. Everyone should take a break for a while after a moving.
  

  When you are moving with your children you can keep them busy by involving them. Think of a game for them and they'll be happy to participate.

Involve the kids, too!

• Let the children take part as well! Instead of having kids running around the house full of energy let them participate. Make up a game in which they can be involved. For example, you can give them a hat each and tell them it is a special hat that makes them the packing captains and they are in charge as your first helpers! They’ll surely be excited. You can assign them little tasks like handing you over the towels for wrapping. That way you can keep them involved, they will learn something and be happy to contribute, and you can do your work undisturbed.
• After the packing is over, you can encourage them for their help by telling them what a great job they did – that would make the kids even happier.
• When you start packing you can also hide some sweets at the bottom of the boxes with your children’s things. After you have moved you can tell them that whoever unpacks his/ her boxes will get a special prize hidden inside.
• When moving day is over and you are at your new home about to begin unpacking – they will remember what good helpers they are (because you have told them that before moving out) and they will be happy to collaborate.
• And if you don’t want your children to be engaged in the moving you can keep them busy with their favorite toys. Just give them some space where they could play away from the packing areas and they’d be happy.

With some creativity and a good mood even a stressful job like the moving can turn into a fun experience. Have you moved already? What’s your experience? You can add up your ideas, too – share as a comment what you did to make your moving fun!

Author: Pamela Smithon May 14, 2012
An expert contributor to My Moving Reviews.