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How To Prepare Your Children And Pets For A Move

When you need a moving company that you can trust, hiring Five Star Moving is your best option. Are there other local movers that you could hire? Sure, but how many of them have the experience, great prices, and outstanding customer service that Five Star Moving does? Five Star Moving has been helping people just like you to make the moving process as quick and painless as possible. Nobody likes to move, it is a major hassle, and your entire life feels like it is in a state of upheaval during the move. That is why Five Star Moving makes customer service a priority. They understand that this is a stressful time for you, and they will do everything that they can to make things easier for you. The bottom line is that when you are considering hiring a moving company, hiring anyone but Five Star Moving could end up being a mistake.

Moving with Children

Moving with kids can be particularly challenging because it is a major change, and many kids struggle with change. Things can be particularly difficult when you are moving with older kids since they have friends and a social circle that you are going to be interrupting. Therefore, it is important that you talk with your kids about the move. Explain why you are moving and let them know why it is important. Kids may not immediately understand your motives, and while they may not show it right away, they will appreciate your honesty with them. Make sure that you explain to your kids that you do not want to upset them, but you have a valid reason for moving. You should also make it a point to remind them that with smartphones and social media, there is no reason they cannot keep in touch with their friends after you move.

Explore together

Once you have chosen the new city that you will be living in, make it a point to go exploring with your kids. If your schedule permits, taking a trip to your new city before you move is a great idea. It will give you a chance to show your kids around, and to explore your new home as well. Make it a fun day, or better yet, a fun weekend. Take your kids out and show them all that your new city has to offer. Doing this is a great way to get them on board with the move and help to change their feelings about what is happening.

Get them involved

Another great way to help your kids become more comfortable with the prospect of moving is to get them involved in the moving process. This will probably work better with younger children since most teenagers are happier not having to do any manual labor. When you get younger children involved with the moving process it helps them to remain occupied, and it also lets them feel like they belong. You don’t have to give them a lot to do, just give them some simple packing duties, and most young kids are than happy to help out.

Keep them Occupied

While getting your kids involved during the moving process can help them to feel useful, there are going to be times where you need to keep them occupied so they will not get in your way. This is especially true when dealing with younger kids. Younger kids may want to help, but they are often more of a hinderance than a help when it comes to moving. Have them do some packing and give them some minor tasks, but beyond that you will need to find ways to keep them entertained. Fortunately, modern technology makes it easy for most parents to keep their kids entertained. Depending on their ages many kids can be easily entertained with tablets, or if they are a bit older they’re probably glued to their smartphones.

Take a break

One thing you should consider doing if time permits it is taking a break from moving when you can and relaxing with them. Even if all that you do is get a quick bite to eat, this momentary distraction can mean a great deal to most kids. It will show them that you still have time for them, and as much as teenagers hate to admit it, they still appreciate it when their parents make time for them. On top of helping your kids deal with the anxieties of moving, taking a break with them will help you to recharge your batteries as well.

Moving with Pets

When it is time to plan your move, do not forget to keep the needs of your pets in mind. Moving can be incredibly stressful on your pets, and it is important that you remember this and do your best to ease their anxieties. When you must move with kids you can at least sit down and have a conversation with them. You can explain why you are moving, where you are moving to, and why they should be excited about moving to a new city. With pets you do not have that luxury. All your pets know is that something is happening, all the humans they depend on seem stressed out, and many of them are afraid that they will be abandoned. If you are anything like most pet lovers, the last thing you want is to cause your pet undue stress. So, what can you do to make the moving process easier on them?

Visit your Vet

Start out by taking your pet to the vet. Taking your pet to the vet is probably the last thing you’d think of when you’re trying to reduce their stress, and you’re right. But, going to the vet is a necessity, so try to plan a trip to their veterinarian a few weeks before you move. This will give you a chance to get them the care that they need, while also giving them ample time to calm down before you start moving. Why is it important to take your pet to the vet before a move? It is important because you need to be sure that your pet has all the vaccinations that they need to remain healthy. Remember, you are moving to a new area, and there is always a chance that there will be animals carrying a contagious bug of some sort near your new home. So, do the right thing, take your pet to the vet to make sure that they remain healthy.

Pack their Necessities

Obviously, you are going to pack up all your pet supplies to take with you to your new home. But do not forget to keep out some of their necessities so you have easy access to them. Think of it this way, when you move you always make sure that you have easy access to toiletries, medications, and other essential supplies, right? Well, do the same thing for your pets. Keep their food, medicine, bed, and leash somewhere that you have easy access to them. Also, make sure that you have a kennel to move them in, the last thing you want is for one of your pets to get loose during a move. Remember, your pets are going to feel distressed during a move, so keep them secure so you do not have to worry about them running off.

Pet Proof

Before you let your pets loose to start exploring their new home, make sure that you take the time to pet proof it first. If you have dogs, make sure that you walk around the perimeter of your backyard, while it’s still daytime, and make sure that the fence is secure and that there are no gaps in it. This is a new area you are in, so even if you took your pet for frequent walks before so they knew their neighborhood, here if they got lost they’d have no way to find their way back home. After checking the fence walk the yard and look for hazards. Hazards can include anything from broken glass to dangerous animals like rattlesnakes. Once your yard is safe, make sure that you give your new home a once over, and put away anything that your pet could get hurt on when they come inside.

Give them Attention

After your pet has had a chance to run around outside and explore, let them come inside and spend time with you. You must remember that moving is stressful on pets, and many of them have a fear of abandonment. They see you packing, and they are smart enough to understand what is happening, so they need to be reassured that they are still loved and that you will not leave them behind. Let them come inside your new home and explore, and most importantly let them be near you. Even if you are busy unpacking, just having them in the home with you will go a long way to helping them feel less anxious about what is going on. Pets are social animals that depend on us, so treat them with the care and kindness that they deserve. Once you are settled in, take them for walks and let them explore their new surroundings, they are certain to love going on this type of new adventure, especially since you are there with them.