Moving day is a lot of things — exciting, exhausting, chaotic, emotional. For adults it is a logistical marathon. For kids it can feel confusing and unsettling. But with a little creativity and the right attitude, moving day can actually be something the whole family looks forward to. Here is how to make it fun.
Tell the Kids Early and Make It an Adventure
The worst thing you can do is spring a move on young children with little notice. Kids handle change much better when they are prepared and involved. Tell them about the move as early as possible and frame it as an adventure — a new bedroom to decorate, a new neighbourhood to explore, new friends to make. Let them help pick the colour of their bedroom wall or choose where their bed goes. The more ownership they feel over the new space, the more excited they will be about the move.
Give Kids Their Own Moving Jobs
Kids love feeling useful and important. Assign each child their own age appropriate moving job and make it official. Younger kids can be in charge of packing their own toys into a special box and decorating it with markers and stickers. Older kids can help label boxes, wrap items in packing paper, or be in charge of the snack bag for the day. Give them a title — Chief Box Decorator, Official Snack Manager, Moving Day Helper — and take it seriously. They will too.
Make a Moving Day Playlist
Music makes everything better. Let each family member add their favourite songs to a moving day playlist and play it all day long — while packing, while loading, while unloading, while setting up the new place. A good playlist keeps energy up, makes the work feel lighter, and gives the day a festive feeling instead of a stressful one.
Turn Unpacking Into a Game
Once you arrive at the new place, turn unpacking into a scavenger hunt or a race. Who can find all the kitchen items first? Who can set up their bedroom the fastest? Give out small prizes — a favourite snack, choosing what’s for dinner, picking the movie that night. It keeps kids engaged and motivated and gets the unpacking done faster than you’d expect.
Let Kids Decorate Their Own Boxes
Before packing day, give each child their own set of moving boxes and a pack of markers. Let them decorate their boxes however they want — drawings, their name in big letters, stickers, whatever makes them happy. It gives them something fun to do during the pre-move chaos and makes their boxes easy to identify on moving day. Their stuff goes in their boxes, into their new room, and they unpack it themselves.
Order Pizza on Moving Night
Do not attempt to cook on moving night. Order pizza — or whatever your family’s favourite takeout is — and eat it on the floor of the new living room surrounded by boxes. Make it a tradition. Moving night pizza is one of those things kids remember forever. It turns what could be an exhausting end to a long day into something that actually feels like a celebration.
Keep Comfort Items Close
For younger children especially, having familiar comfort items within reach all day makes an enormous difference. Their favourite stuffed animal, their blanket, their go-to snack — keep these in a bag that travels with you in the car, not on the truck. When things feel overwhelming, familiar objects are incredibly reassuring for little ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can kids help with a move? Kids of all ages can help in some way. Toddlers can carry small soft items. School-age kids can pack their own belongings, label boxes, and help set up their room. Teenagers can help with almost everything an adult can. Giving every child a job appropriate to their age makes them feel involved and valued.
How do I help my child adjust to a new school after a move? Visit the new school before the first day if possible. Meet the teacher, walk the hallways, find the bathroom and the cafeteria. Familiarity reduces first-day anxiety enormously. Arrange a playdate with a classmate early on and stay connected with friends from the old school through video calls and visits.
What if my child is really upset about the move? Acknowledge their feelings without dismissing them. Moving is a big deal and it is okay for kids to feel sad about leaving friends and a familiar home. Listen, validate, and give it time. Most children adjust well within a few weeks once they start making new friends and getting comfortable in the new space.
How do I keep kids entertained on moving day? Pack a dedicated activity bag for each child with their favourite small toys, colouring books, snacks, and a tablet or device with downloaded shows or games. If possible, arrange for young children to spend the heaviest part of moving day with a grandparent or family friend so they are safe and entertained while the truck is being loaded.
Moving with kids does not have to be a survival mission. Our team at Brothers Moving loves helping Vancouver families relocate — and we know how to work efficiently so your family can get settled as fast as possible. Call us at 604-720-0931 or request a free quote online today.
Brothers Moving serves Metro Vancouver including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, White Rock and Horseshoe Bay. We also serve Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River and Parksville, and throughout BC including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Chilliwack and Prince George.