Moving day lands on the same stress scale as the first week back at school, except instead of juggling school bags and uniforms, you’re tied up in bubble wrap, wrangling cranky kids and drowning in boxes up to your eyeline. Suddenly, “keeping calm and carrying on” feels about as likely as finding a sippy cup lid on the first try.
Still, a little strategy (and a lot of humour) can turn your chaos into an adventure with your kids. Whether you’re upsizing for your growing tribe or downsizing to find that ever-elusive work-life balance in Sydney’s breezy Eastern Suburbs, moving with kids is no small feat.
What you’re going to need is a solid game plan and some helpful hacks so that you can truly stay sane and maybe even enjoy moving.
Why Moving With Children Feels So Overwhelming
Kids thrive on routine. Uprooting them can mean sleepless nights, big feelings, and cries about missing school hats or pencil cases. But it’s also an opportunity to build resilience, spark curiosity, and draw your family closer together.
When you reframe moving as an adventure (one with spreadsheets, yes, but also with fairy bread for morale), it becomes less of a chaos-fest and more of a memory-making mission.
Start Early With Planning
Don’t leave everything till the last minute or think you can pack your whole life up in a weekend. Get started early and have a plan of attack at least a month out from your planned moving date by creating a comprehensive spreadsheet that lists all the major items you can keep in boxes until your inevitable move.
Start with the big ticket items like fridges, washing machines and dishwashers to ensure that they aren’t left behind. You should also account for the dining table, washing machine, large-screen TV and anything else that might be bulky, heavy, and may require the help of professional removalists.
Keep Your Stuff and Your Sanity Protected
Accidents will inevitably happen (especially when boxes, excitable kids, and movers mix), that’s why many families choose peace of mind with home contents insurance.
Did you know NRMA Insurance provides contents only home policies that are specifically designed to protect your valuables in situations just like these?
Whether it’s a mishap with the TV or a case of vanishing tablets, knowing your essentials are protected helps you sleep a whole lot better, no matter what your unpacking schedule looks like.
Tempers may flare and plans may unravel during your move, but that’s all part of the adventure. The important part is rolling with the punches and giving yourself and your kids grace and patience. Have a sense of humour, and if something does go wrong, try to look on the bright side.
A quick tip is to make an inventory of valuable or sentimental items before you move, just in case. Snap photos and keep digital copies, its easier than ever with your phone.
Get The Whole Family Involved
Kids love to help (and yes, “help” may mean repacking every teddy in a separate box). Give your kids some small jobs that will make them feel empowered with their own belongings, like sorting toys, drawing labels for boxes or picking paint colours for their new room. The more involved they are, the more secure they’ll feel.
It is important to try and stick to your usual routines if possible, which includes consistent mealtimes, naps, and bedtime rituals. Predictability is especially important for kids who may feel unsettled by all the changes. If you’re looking for guidance, you can read about how other local mums embrace big changes.
It would also be beneficial to get your kids excited about moving. Show them the new house if possible, or at least pictures of it and start to prepare artwork or other decorations for their room.
If you do this, you are less likely to have to manage resistance from them during moving day, which can seriously ignite your frustration and stress levels.
Declutter Your Household Items To Avoid Unpacking Stress
Moving is the best excuse to lighten your load and declutter things you don’t need from your and your kids’ lives.
Go room by room and create piles labelled keep, donate, and bin to remove things quickly.
You could even donate outgrown toys and clothes to local charities, sell larger items online to fund your move and toss out anything broken or missing half its parts.
Fewer possessions mean fewer boxes, fewer moving costs, and fewer arguments over what to unpack first.
Getting Your Packing Sorted Before Moving
Before you pack up all your things, pack a box (or suitcase) for each family member with the absolute essentials:
- Two days’ worth of clothes
- Toiletries and medications
- Favourite toy or comfort item
- Snuggly blanket or pillow
The box or suitcase will stay with you throughout the whole moving experience and will be great for kids to experience what it would be like to travel for their first time, living out of just a small suitcase.
Labelling Hacks
Everyone always goes for generic texta-scrawl that becomes unreadable when it comes time to unpack. Instead, try colour-coded duct tape for each room, let your kids draw pictograms on boxes, or use big, bold labels so you know exactly where each box of your belongings belongs.
The Big Day: Survival Strategies
Have a plan in place for your moving day; it might be a matter of surviving the move itself. If possible, arrange for childcare, grandparents to mind your kids or a friend’s playdate so that your kids can be occupied and avoid the moving stress.
If that’s not something that you can do, create a safe zone for your kids in a different room with snacks, puzzles, and screens (desperate times may call for an extra hour of Bluey).
Don’t Forget: Celebrate Your Success!
When the last box is unpacked, throw a mini “housewarming” dance party for the kids, order in pizza, or take everyone for an ice cream. You did it, you gave your family a brand-new chapter and probably created a story or two that’ll get a laugh in years to come.
Quick Checklist: Your Family’s Moving Survival Guide
Want a quick checklist to make sure you don’t forget about any of the essentials, see our moving survival guide below:
- Start early: The more time you give yourself to plan out your move, the less stressful the move.
- Get everyone involved: Let your kids claim boxes, declutter their belongings and get amongst the moving.
- Clear the clutter: Less stuff means less stress.
- Pack an “essentials” box: Give each family member a box for their belongings they will need for an overnight trip.
- Label your boxes clearly: Whether you label them with big writing, coloured tape or drawings of whats inside, label them clearly
- Arrange childcare: Organise a playdate, get the grandparents involved or set up a kids zone area if you can.
- Unpack your child’s room first.
- Explore your new community.
- Protect your valuables: Home and contents insurance can help you have peace of mind for your home and belongings.
Lean On Your Loved Ones And Those Around You
Remember, you’re not alone in this, your family, friends and kids are here to support you, even when moving gets tough. With a bit of planning and a healthy dash of humour, you can turn what might be a stressful undertaking into a memorable family adventure.
