I know when every time we have moved (and it hasn’t been that many) I thought I was going to lose my mind.  My husband was already across the country working at his job and I was back at “home” trying to sell one house, pick another online, handle being a single parent with two children under the age of 2 and third child in elementary, run my own business and did I mention get ready for the move?  The last thing I needed to happen, was exactly what happened because we didn’t trust our move to experts.

Mr. AtoZ tried to locate a moving company we could afford and that would move us when we wanted to move.   We thought we found one but it took hours of online searches and telephone calls.  We filled out forms over and over again.  And, the day of the big pack us up and move they didn’t show up.  Now, I have to handle the children and the packing.   I never want to do that again.   Not only is working with a moving company hard work, and moving your children to a new home, but finding the right moving company is obviously the biggest challenge.

Cue Unpakt.com, a price comparison site for moving services, where you can find reputable moving companies in several cities including Houston, compare prices and reviews, and book online. Instantly!

Receive 5% instant cash back on your next move! Enter promo code: SPRING5 on Unpakt.com when booking and save. Must book by 6/30/13.

If only I knew then what I know now about moving with children.   Unpakt.com not only helps with the process of finding a mover but it also offers up helpful advice like this list of 10 tips to make the move with children a whole lot easier.

1.       Contact the new school prior to moving – Make sure all paperwork for your child, such as immunization forms, have been completed and provided to the school. Additionally, consider asking for a tour of the school with the child’s new teacher to help your child get acclimated.

2.       Change your address before you move – It will take some time for all of your mail to be sent to your new address. Making the change ahead of time will ensure you receive your mail after you move.

3       Book your move early – Hiring a moving company will make your move quicker and more efficient. For help, consider Unpakt to help you make the transition. You can worry about the children and let your movers worry about the rest.

 4.       Subscribe to/pick up the town paper – Local papers carry great information about recreational activities for children as well as family events in town. Pick out some fun things to do and sign up for to get your child excited about moving to a new town. This will also allow them to meet other children in the neighborhood.

 5.       Don’t pack important papers and documents into random boxes – Keep documents such as birth certificates, closing papers, credit card information, etc. on hand so you can easily access them at all times, particularly if any documents must be provided to your child’s school district for enrollment.

 6.       Pack up your child’s favorite belongings in one box ­– Keep this box with you for your child to open as soon as you move in. This will help to create a familiar place for your child in the new home.

 7.       Pick up some fun stickers and let the kids label their boxes – Involving your children in fun ways will help them associate moving with fun. Additionally, when the boxes head to the new house, they will be able to get excited about finding the ones that belong to them.

 8.       Pack with your child in mind – Moving takes time so be sure to pack at least two days worth of necessary items you will need for your children in a separate box, eliminating the hassle of digging through numerous boxes to find specific items.

 9.       Keep the kids away from the moving site – With all of the commotion on moving day, it can be dangerous for your children to be running around in the middle of it all. To keep your children safe and to help you focus on your move, set up a play date with other children in the neighborhood or hire a babysitter / ask a family member or close friend to take your children to their favorite places in town, like the park, a toy store, a do-it-yourself or studio and the movies.

 10.       Unpack your child’s room first – Moving is exhausting for everyone, but organizing your child’s belongings first will help to keep them calm while you unpack the remainder of the house.

What advice do you have for making a move with children easier?