Having a large family is an incredible joy, but it carries much responsibility. We are not going to lie. Moving house with your family of five or six will be difficult and stressful.
That said, you can still get the most out of the experience and ensure that it finishes with a happy end for you, your family, and your belongings.
Table of Contents
Start Planning Early
When your whole family is moving, one of the most important things to do is start planning early.
It requires a lot of time and effort, but when doing it with a large family, there are even more things to consider. Therefore, it is essential to start planning well in advance to ensure that everything is organised and ready to go on the big day.
Make a list of things that need to be done before the move, such as packing, organising paperwork, transferring utilities, etc. Assign tasks to each family member so everyone is involved and understands what they need to do.
Declutter and Streamline Belongings
Moving with a large family means there will likely be a lot of packing and hauling. Therefore, it is important to declutter and downsize.
Go through each room in your home and decide what you want to keep, donate, or sell. This will not only help you pack and move less but also help you get a fresh start in your new home.
It is often hard to let go of belongings even though you know you don’t need them deep down. So you can ask for help from family and friends here. Sorting everything together will help get rid of stuff you don’t use but don’t want to get rid of.
Lastly, consider renting storage units to make the transition easier, as they will allow you to go through the decluttering process at your own pace.
Create a Detailed Inventory
Once you have organised your belongings, make a detailed inventory of what you are taking to your new home. Keeping track of everyone’s belongings during the moving process will take a lot of work.
You can create a spreadsheet or use an app to list the different items and boxes and plan what should go where. This will help your move-in process, as you can leave every box in its dedicated room and easily unpack it.
Coordinate Schedules and Logistics
Regularly coordinate with other family members’ schedules to ensure everything is on track. Whether it is contacting utility companies, schools, cable or the internet, you need to ensure that everything goes as planned.
If you decide to use the help of moving companies to assist with the packing and removals process, or you hire a truck, stay on top of the schedule and ensure everything is ready for the day of the move.
Pack Strategically
While planning is essential to a successful move, it is equally vital to be flexible. Understand that your priorities are likely to change before you go through. Doing so will bring order to the chaos and prevent stress when you need to adjust plans.
Packing is one of the most time-consuming and difficult parts of moving, especially if you are moving with a large family.
Pack unused items, such as seasonal clothing and holiday decorations, to streamline the process. Use sturdy boxes, and make sure you label them clearly with a brief description of the room and contents.
Label and Organise Boxes
Make labelling easy. Colour coding is your best bet. Purchase coloured duct tape or labels and assign a colour to each child and room in the house. A glance at the boxes will tell you where each box goes.
This will ensure that everyone’s belongings are packed and transported correctly and reduce the likelihood of them being lost or misplaced during the move.
Prepare an Essentials Box
Always carry essentials with you – If you have a large family, there is a good chance that you have several children of different ages.
Water, milk, juice, formula, baby bottles, medicine, snacks, paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins, diapers, and games to keep the child entertained during the move.
A separate bag for each child should contain the most important practical and memorable items (change of clothes, most favourite toys, most frequently needed personal care items, and anything else you may need during the move and the first couple of days in the new home).
Communicate and Involve the Family
As soon as you consider a move seriously, inform all family members of your plans. Get the family’s opinion on the matter and weigh their pros and cons for the relocation.
Once you and your partner have decided to move, hold a family meeting to discuss all the important aspects of the move together, such as the best time and place to move, essential things for the new home for the family (location, size, type of housing, desirable features, etc.).
Share your information with the entire family so that everyone knows when, how, and why they are moving. The more you know, the less stressful it will be.
Moving is tough for kids, but it’s even harder if they feel they can’t say anything and are forced to move from one place to the next. Take the extra time to explain why you should move and answer any questions they may have.
Assure them that they will be just as safe, comfortable, and loved in their new home as they are now, and ask them what they would like to discover in their new city, what new activities they would like to try, and how they would like their new room set up.
Take Care of Emotional Well-Being
Moving is stressful for everyone. You have to do a lot of things at the same time, and you always have that feeling you are missing something.
While adults can cope with this, it is significantly harder for children. Take care of their emotional well-being by planning a fun new life in a new place.
They will understand the benefits and opportunities that moving brings, and their curiosity and sense of adventure will be piqued, reducing the stress of the move.
So focus on the positive aspects of the process and do everything you can to help ease your children’s feelings about the move.
Conclusion
When moving with your entire family, there are always things that will not go as planned. Being flexible and staying on track with your schedule is important in such situations. Planning for the unforeseen will allow you to face difficulties head-on without stressing too much.
Moving companies are a great asset, as they can significantly reduce the anxiety associated with the family moving process. Ensure you find the right company and work with them to organise and schedule the move.
Dedicate enough time and effort to keep your children informed and involved so that they can associate the move with a pleasant experience.
