Talk about the move early
Children handle change better when they understand it. Explain where you're moving, why, and what will stay the same — their bed, their toys, the family routine. Show older kids the new house, neighborhood and school online, and let them help make decisions about their room.
Involve kids in packing
- Give each child a box to decorate and pack with their favorite things. It travels in your car, not the truck.
- Let them label boxes for their room with stickers or drawings.
- Pack their room last and unpack it first so their space is ready on night one.
Moving day with children
Moving day is loud, busy and full of open doors and heavy objects. For toddlers and young children, the safest plan is a day with a relative, friend or sitter. If older kids stay, give them a job — checking off boxes, keeping pets company, handing out water — and set up a safe "kid zone" away from the loading path.
Moving day with pets
- Keep dogs and cats in a closed room with food, water and a familiar bed, with a sign on the door so the crew doesn't open it. Better yet, board them or leave them with a friend for the day.
- Update ID tags and microchip records with your new address before the move.
- Pack a pet bag: food, bowls, leash, litter, medications, vet records and a favorite toy.
- Pets ride with you, never on the truck. Movers can't transport live animals.
Long-distance moves with pets
Plan pet-friendly hotel stops, keep cats in carriers and dogs harnessed in the car, and never leave animals in a parked vehicle. For flights or international moves, contact the airline and destination country early — many require health certificates, specific crates and advance booking.
Settling in
- Set up bedrooms and the kitchen first so routines can restart quickly.
- Walk the new neighborhood together and find the park, library and school.
- Let pets explore one room at a time; keep cats indoors for a couple of weeks.
- Expect some adjustment. Extra patience — and the familiar bedtime routine — goes a long way.
Before you leave: schools and records
Request school records and immunization records, register at the new school as early as allowed, and transfer prescriptions and pediatric and veterinary records to providers near your new home.