Moving Tips & Resources

1. Moving With Children
2. Moving With Pets
3. Packing Tips

• Tell them the advantages of moving (new sports, a better school, entertainment)
• Be prepared for negative reactions. Give them a chance to express their feelings and be honest about your own feelings. Gently tell your children about any sadness you may feel about leaving or uncertainty about a new home, job or city. This helps reassure them that they aren't alone in having worries or concerns.
• Give them some influence and control over some aspects of the move. A toddler can "pack for a teddy bear" or "help" you do serious packing.
• Don't overload young children with unnecessary details.
• Make a scrapbook containing pictures of your current home, friends, and other mementos of your life together.
• Help older children prepare a list of phone numbers and addresses of close friends, relatives, and other important people in their lives. Knowing they can stay in touch is an important part of a successful move.
• Include children in a preview trip, if possible. Explore the new neighborhoods, schools and town together.
• If the children can't be included in the homefinding trip, take pictures of your new home, the schools they will attend, parks, and other facets of the new location that will be interesting to them.
• If you can, try to meet families in your new neighborhood before you move. Being familiar with people when you move in will help your children feel more at home.
• Set aside time each day during the relocation to sit down and talk/read/play with your children.
• Allow children to maintain contact with special friends after the move. This can include having friends from the old neighborhood come visit if distances are short, or allowing your child to call friends in your old location periodically. Encourage them to write or e-mail their friends.

• Cats and Dogs may be shipped by air or taken along in the family car. If you are flying to your new destination, check with airlines regarding size requirements to take a cat or dog into the passenger cabin with you. If you are transporting your pet in the baggage department, talk to your veterinarian about up-to-date shots and a health certificate. You may want to ask for tranquilizers to give your pet just before heading to the airport. Make sure to put a piece of clothing with your scent on it in the animals box so it will feel more at home during transportation. If you're driving, be sure to precheck with hotels and motels along the route to make certain your dog or cat will be welcome.
• Hamsters, birds and other small animals can be easily transported in your car. Make sure they have enough food and water in their cages and are out of drafts or extreme temperatures. It is a good idea to cover their cages with a cloth to keep them quiet and restful.
• Fish are very difficult to transport. In general, it is impractical to move an aquarium with fish in it. A gallon of water weights 8 pounds, so a small ten-gallon aquarium will weight almost a hundred pounds when filled. Plan on giving the fish away with a promise to restock the aquarium when you arrive at your new home. (Return to Top)

• Pack heavy items in small boxes, light items in larger boxes
• Designate one drawer of a dresser for sheets and towels so they'll be easily available the first night in your new home
• Place a sock or nylon stocking in your refrigerator with a cup of baking soda, charcoal or fresh coffee to keep the interior smelling fresh
• Pack your current phone book - you may need to call residents or businesses in your former hometown
• Records and plates should be packed on end vertically, rather than stacked
• Make sure medicine and other toiletries have lids on securely prior to packing
• Remove bulbs from lamps before packing
• Clearly label each carton with room number plus contents
• Ask a friend to keep your children and pets when packing and on moving day
• If packing yourself, pack several cartons each day rather than all at once
• Pack on a room-by-room basis. Don't mix items from different rooms in one box
• Allow children to pack their favorite toys. This gives them a stronger sense of belonging
• Be cautious with boxes from grocery or liquor stores. They may not be clean and may not have the strength to withstand the weight of items you're packing. (Return to Top)

Hazardous materials may not be moved

• Paint
• Varnish
• Gasoline
• Kerosene
• Oil
• Bottled gas
• Aerosol cans
• Nail polish/remover
• Ammunition
• Explosives

Pack a "survival" kit which you carry in your car, or have first off the truck

• Basic Tools - Hammer screwdriver, knife, tape, etc.
• Bathroom products - soap, toilet paper, towels, etc.
• Kitchen items - Disposable utensils, cups, plates and snacks, drinks, etc.
• Cleaning products - Cleansers, broom, dustpan, sponges, etc.

Load your plants in the moving truck last, and unload them first - check with the U. S. Department of Agriculture for regulations regarding moving plants. (Return to Top)

Resources

1. The U.S. Government's Official Web Port
   An invaluable resource for state, local & federal information
2. The U.S. Postal Service Address Change & Mover's Guide

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