If you’re planning a move, feeling overwhelmed is expected. With the added stress of kids or other family members, packing gets more complex with each additional person and their belongings. Fortunately, there are some great tips to keep things moving smoothly. Below is the ultimate family packing guide to help you streamline the moving and packing process for your long-distance relocation. Your kids might even have some fun while you do it!

Preparation and Organizing

Moving long distances with kids doesn’t have to be a disaster. If you plan, you can make this process fun and exciting while also delegating some of the responsibility off your shoulders. Talk to your kids about the move and help them understand what to expect. When they’re a part of what’s going on, it will take some of the mystery and fear out of it all.

Make an Official Moving Plan and Checklist

Before you do anything, take the time to create an official moving plan with packing and to-do checklists. This will be a master plan of what will happen in the next few months. This should be a living document you add to as you consider new items and details. Ask friends and family who have moved what things they wish they had thought of beforehand. Allow your kids to add things to the list. You might be surprised at the thoughts that come to their minds (and what you forgot) with the idea of moving to a new place.

Put the checklist in a binder that won’t get torn or damaged. Find a place to keep it that everyone knows about. A binder with pockets is ideal because you can keep other papers regarding your move in the same place.

Organize Your Move

The next step is to start organizing the actual move. If you can get your hands on your new home’s floor plan and layout, it will help the process. Measurements will give you even more information to plan your move. Decide where your current furniture will be placed in your new home. With accurate measurements, you’ll know if the couch will fit in the living room or if you have enough space in the kids’ bedroom for two full beds or twins.

Label the furniture and other items based on the rooms where they will go in the new space. This step will help you decide what you can keep and what needs to be sold or given away. It also tells you if you’ll need to buy new furniture once you’re in the new location. This is also the time to start purging. Donate clothes and toys the kids have outgrown. Let them get involved by helping to decide what they want to keep for sentimental reasons. Once you’ve finished this process, you’ll know how many boxes and other packing supplies you need.

If you’re planning your move, now is the best time to employ professionals to move your possessions. They can help you load and unpack your items or move them in a truck. They may also provide packing supplies and storage facilities to ease the burden of the moving process.

Packing

As moving day draws near, note the date to begin packing in your moving property. Importantly, don’t try to do it all yourself. Get the kids involved and invite neighbors over for a packing party. This arduous task will be a lot more fun for everyone.

Begin packing the items you use the least. Think of holiday decorations, books, out-of-season clothes, and all Your decorations. You’ll still have the things you need for Doubledaydyou’llday living, but you’ll have less to pack closer to moving day. What’s what’s every box with what’s inside and the room where it will be placed in the new home? A key tip with this step is to label the two don’t sides so it doesn’t matter how the box is packed in the truck. Keep a checklist of boxes in your binder with the numbers and contents. You’ll know the box number if you need something instead of reading every box.

Prepare for Boxes

It’s going to take time to get everything unpacked. The time to plan for you’re in is now while packing. Build a first you’ll box with items you’ll need until all the other boxes are unpacked. This box should include a few clothes for the first week, pajamas, personal hygiene products, snacks, toys and games for the kids, and anything else you might need for the first few days after you move. Get your kids involved so they have what they want to use to keep them occupied.

Here are some other suggestions:

• Device chargers
• Medications
• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies
• Dishes, utensils, and cookware
• Coffee maker, mugs, and coffee
• Paper towels
• Garbage bags
• Light bulbs
• Sheets or sleeping bags
• Blankets and pillows
• Shower curtain
• Towels

You may find other items you want to include in your special box. You can even let them decorate it so it’s easily recognizable once packed in the moving truck.

Moving Day

Moving day is a big deal for everyone, and emotions run high. As the movers start loading the furniture, you’ll want to keep the kids safely out of their way. Designate a play area, an empty room, or an outdoor space. Keep a few toys and items to occupy the kids until the movers finish their job.

Another option is to take the kids out for the day and visit a park or another attraction. You’ll be making a few last memories in your old area and allowing everyone to relax before they explore their new home.

Enjoy Your New Home

Unpacking is going to be a process. Could you not do it like packing was? Don’t try to do it all in one day, or everyone will get tired and cranky. Plan to spend some time exploring your new neighborhood. Find that pizza place or the ice cream shop closest to your home. Discover a nearby park where the kids can run off energy, and you can relax in the fresh air.

With a clear plan right from the start and professional movers doing the heavy lifting of children, moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Your family and you can make it through a long-distance relocation with ease.