Age-Appropriate Tasks for Kids During Your Rental Move

Moving into a house can feel like an organized mess, boxes everywhere, tape stuck in your hair, and a never-ending to-do list getting longer each hour. If you have children, it could be tempting to hide them away and do it faster, but what if you instead included them? Children love to feel like they are being helpful, and they can be quite capable if given the right task.

Giving kids age-appropriate moving tasks will keep them occupied, help them understand responsibility. Even if it’s sorting their toys or decorating their new room, every child can do something they consider meaningful. Read on for age-appropriate jobs your kids can do as you’re moving into your rental, and give them a sense of ownership during the move. 

Benefits of Involving Kids During the Move 

• Reduces Anxiety

Moving can be very stressful for everyone, but especially kids. They are leaving behind spaces and friends that they consider familiar. However, kids are not as scared and worried about moving when they are part of it, even in the littlest of ways. When kids do feel involved in the process, they become more emotionally invested in life. They don’t just see life happening, they are part of it. 

When you give them some fairly minor responsibilities like packing their toys or helping you label boxes, they might feel some control of their own during what might seem to them like an uncertain time. It helps to shift the move from something being done to them, to something they are doing with you, knowing they have a small part in the process may actually change how the kids process their transition. Also, it helps open the door for discussions, reassurance, and excitement about what is coming.

• Practical Help

Between packing your stuff and last-minute scrambles, you need all the help you can get. Your kids can actually be a huge asset. Sure, they won’t lift the couch, but they can pack up their toys and sort through their clothes. It might be helpful to have a move-out checklist on hand to ensure nothing gets left out as you move.

Giving them simple, practical tasks not only lightens your load, but it also keeps them from getting bored or accidentally unpacking boxes you’ve already sealed in some cases. Kids often take pride in being “big helpers.” Even if it’s just stacking books or peeling off stickers from the wall, their contributions matter. Involving them is a smart way of reducing stress and getting real help. 

• Sense of Ownership

Moving usually makes children feel like their whole world is being placed inside boxes. One minute, they are in a space they know, and then everything changes. If you’re asking yourself, “Is Austin Texas a nice place to live?” – we suggest you ask a property manager, and get recommendations. Checking in on the kids by giving them a small role (packing their toys, deciding on where their new bookshelf will go) can make a difference. When they are making choices, they feel they are part of the decision-making process. They don’t just feel they are moving into the space the grown-ups decided on, it is their space too.

This gives them a small sense of ownership, which will help ease the transition. Your child will feel like they are part of the team, as opposed to just being moved around. They will have more confidence as a result of this sense of contribution, enabling them to become more integrated quicker. Additionally, they would be able to make a transition that could be very stressful, feel well within their control and make it an experience of empowerment, and possibly excitement.

Recommended Activities Per Age Group 

• Preschoolers

Even though preschoolers are young, they love to feel helpful, and moving provides a great opportunity to involve them in fun, safe activities. Begin by packing their stuffed animals and/or non-breakable toys in a big old cardboard box that has their name on it. We can also make sorting chores a game: “Let’s find all the blue toys!” They will feel even more proud of their contribution if they can decorate their moving boxes with stickers. A clear explanation of what is happening is a priority above all. 

• Elementary School

For children in elementary school, a good transition is to incorporate meaningful and fun experiences while they are on the move. Try activities that allow them to reflect and identify what it means to have feelings. For instance, you might have your child send goodbye letters to friends or a farewell letter to their last house. If you chose to include your child on the moving journey, often they can feel a sense of control when they can still do things like packing their own essentials box by tossing in things that they might want in their backpack for the trip, spotlighting their packing box as well as decorating their moving box and imagining how they will organize their new room for when they get to their new apartment. 

• Middle School

It’s vital to include a middle schooler in the process as appropriately as you can. Let them journal or compile a digital scrapbook to express feelings and capture memories from the old home. Allow them to take pictures of their room, their favorite hang-out spots, and friends, as well as create a “Goodbye Tour” list. Include them in decisions such as allowing them to plan the structure of their new room or look up potential parks, cafes, or schools in the new neighborhood. Encourage them to pack and label their own boxes, particularly any they may want to access right away. 

To help facilitate an ongoing social connection, help your middle schooler set up video chats with friends, swap phone numbers or social media info, or organize a simple goodbye get-together. After you are settled in, help them start exploring the area by providing them with a map or app to explore, or develop fun challenges like trying an activity they have never tried, or finding the best spot to hang out. Planning activities that offer them autonomy, recognize their feelings, and provide them with opportunities to reconnect socially will help the transition be smoother and more positive.

• Teenagers

Teens can be a valuable asset when packing. Give them incentives, such as more screen time or a small prize for every box they pack. Also, ask your teenager to research the new community and develop a bucket list of places they want to visit, restaurants they want to try, or things they want to do. 

Remember to allow your teenager to give input about the layout and design of their new room. This will add to their excitement and help them feel they have some control over their new space. Technology can help to connect during a move; encourage your teenager to host a virtual goodbye party with friends through video chat.

General Tips for Tenants Involving Kids During the Move

Children should be included as much as possible in the packing and moving process. This can mean giving them responsibility for their room and helping them prepare. This way, they can take some ownership in the process and do not feel that this change has been thrust upon them. However, if your child suddenly zones out and finds something else they want to do, it’s important to be as accommodating as you can and not get too frustrated.

One way to begin getting your kids acclimated to the move is to take them to the new house before you move. To highlight all the possibilities, which may also consist of passing the new school, and checking the highlights and features of the area, especially for younger kids. It is helpful to have taken your child to the new house a few times, if possible. Show them their new room and ask them what they think should go in it, what new things they will need, and if they want to get creative and decorate. By getting them involved in the process, they will be more enthusiastic about moving and feel it is their space too.

It can be a lot less overwhelming for our littlest kids to get out from underfoot while you pack and prepare to move house. This means you might have to ask family and friends to watch your children while you finish. It’s a great idea to ask family and friends to help with the relocation, even if your kids are involved. This normalizes the process and helps significantly.

Moving into a new house can be made much easier with careful planning and a lot of understanding. Since every child is different, they will all respond differently. While it can be an exciting journey for some, it will be a stressful time for others.

 

Final Thoughts 

Moving to a new rental will always be time-consuming and difficult for most renters. It becomes much more difficult when children are involved for a variety of reasons, such as managing school transfers, dealing with the feelings of parting ways with friends, and acclimating to a new house.

For this reason, involving the kids in the move is important for their mental well-being and can transform a potentially taxing situation into a fun opportunity for family bonding. Making packing enjoyable, assigning them age-appropriate duties, taking them on tours of the new neighbourhood, and keeping them occupied with games and activities will all help your kids feel better about relocating.