Moving to Little Rock--It's A Family Affair

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

Toddlers

Toddlers and preschoolers are not a great deal of help, but they are so incredibly amused simply by unfilled boxes, rolls of tape, and bubble wrap that you simply do not mind. Give a four-year-old free rein with packing supplies and you could push through their things before they get bored and begin eating the packing peanuts. Seriously, provide your youngest kids a carton and a little tape and get to work. Find out which playthings they want to present to friends or share with different kids they might not know--it's a minor item that assists them to feel as if they have some say in the process.

Elementary Age

If you have youngsters in this age category, they're in the ideal spot--old enough to be very helpful, but not so old that they've got robust sentiments. Here are some chores a 3rd grader can easily accomplish.

· Look through their stuff and choose what to donate.

· Put boxes together, prepare packing materials, put color-coded labels on boxes.

· Put giveaway things in bags and boxes.

· Help clear out closets and drawers to be ready for the professional movers.

This is an excellent age range to discuss contributing gently used toys and games to charitable organizations, as well as to talk about why you choose the ones you do. When the non-profit you decide on possesses a thrift store, bring your kids in and allow them to check out what it looks like.

Junior High School

Pre-teens and teenagers are theoretically capable of really pitching in, but it might take a bit of creativity to make that occur. These children are departing from pals, sporting activities, and school, and might be more interested in small-time sabotage compared to genuinely entering into the swing and cleaning out the storage area. If you wish to use bribery to get them agreeable, it truly is sort of a little expense to pay.

· Offer to let them to select the shade and furniture for their new bedrooms.

· Obtain their feedback on what they might love to have in a new house. Certainly, they should be practical, but inform them their thoughts make a difference. Ask about yards (trees, playhouses, space for a putting green), basements, rec rooms, and other things that might be on their wish lists. Whenever you look at homes on the internet, show them which you like and what you don't--and explain the reasons why.

· Sell unwanted things and split the earnings. Consider various selling places to figure out which companies are the most effective. A good number of sites require that sellers be 18, therefore you'll have to set the profile up and handle the sale listings, however your teenagers could take the photographs, upload them, and write the information.

· Go the garage sale option and let them set up the tables and put price tags on items.

High School and College

These are the tricky years--it's hard to move at any age, however it is particularly tough for high schoolers. The good news is that although they may be fairly sad, they really are of sufficient age to perform a bit of heavy lifting whilst they sulk. Here are some tasks your teens can do to pitch in.

· Help with taking apart furniture.

· Smile and permit them to decorate their rooms precisely like they desire. They are moving out soon enough, and you could definitely paint over their selection.

· Get up in the attic space and get things down--teenagers are far more nimble than their mother and father (and most professional movers will never enter in the attic).

· Drive loads of items to the thrift outlets or the garbage dump. Cover their gas and junk food in the process.

· Set up trips back to see buddies or go on and plan for buddies to come visit.

· Allow them to sell their own items via the internet if they're over 18 years of age and keep the earnings.

· If you hold a yard sale, allow them to take care of the cash and the online sales.

Tell the truth--if you've got children attending college, it is completely likely that you have previously transformed that bedroom into a fitness room or an office. Whenever your college students are home on a break prior to when you move to Little Rock, make certain they sort through all their old boxes of stuff--you are going to still need to move them, however perhaps they will remove enough to cut down on the quantity.