Moving House With Children: A Calm, Practical Plan

Moving house with children adds a layer of planning to an already busy job, but it is entirely manageable with a bit of foresight. Children take their cue from you, so the calmer and better organised the move feels, the more smoothly they will handle it. This guide walks through preparing them beforehand, getting through moving day, and helping them settle into a new home in Sussex.

Prepare them early

Tell your children about the move as soon as the plans are firm, in language that fits their age. Younger children need reassurance about what stays the same, their toys, their routines, you, while older children and teenagers may want a say and time to say goodbye to friends. Show them the new area if you can, or look at it together online, and talk about the good things: a bigger bedroom, a garden, a park nearby. Involving them in small choices, such as the colour of their new room, turns the move from something happening to them into something they are part of.

Pack their rooms the smart way

A child's bedroom is the one room you should pack last and unpack first. Keep a clearly labelled box of the essentials that must be reachable on the first night: favourite toys, comfort items, pyjamas, a nightlight and bedding. Let children help pack their own things where they are old enough, and consider letting them decorate their boxes so they recognise them at the other end. Our room-by-room packing guide covers the wider system, but the golden rule with children is that their world should be the first thing rebuilt in the new house.

Plan moving day around them

Moving day is the hardest to manage with children underfoot, so plan for it. If you can, arrange for a grandparent, friend or childminder to have very young children and pets for the day; it keeps everyone safe around heavy lifting and open doors and lets you concentrate. If the children are with you, pack a day bag with snacks, drinks, a change of clothes and familiar toys, and give them a small job so they feel useful. A tablet or a few games for the quiet stretches is entirely fair on a long day.

• Arrange childcare for the day if you can, especially for under-fives.
• Pack a day bag: snacks, drinks, comfort toys, spare clothes and chargers.
• Keep one "first night" box per child, loaded last into the van.
• Set up their bedroom before you tackle the rest of the house.

Settle them into the new home

Once you arrive, make their bedroom the first finished room so they have a familiar, complete space on the first night, even if the rest of the house is still in boxes. Keep mealtimes and bedtimes to the usual pattern; routine is what tells a child that things are alright. Over the following days, explore the new neighbourhood together, find the local park and shops, and if you have moved within Sussex, get out to a beach or the Downs for a change of scene. Most children settle within a few weeks once the new place stops feeling new.

Schools and the practical side

If the move means a change of school, sort it early. Tell your current school once plans are firm, and apply for a place at the new one through the local authority for the area you are moving to; in-year places depend on availability, so the sooner you ask, the better. Update your address with your GP, dentist and any clubs, and remember the admin that keeps daily life running, from setting up utilities to redirecting post. For the full picture of a Sussex move, the rest of the Move Sussex guides cover costs, timelines and the moving-day checklist.

Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare my child for a house move?

Tell them early and honestly, in words that suit their age, and focus on what stays the same as well as what changes. Involve them in small decisions, like the colour of their new room, and keep routines steady in the run-up so the move feels manageable rather than sudden.

What should I do with young children on moving day itself?

Where you can, arrange for a grandparent, friend or childminder to look after very young children and pets for the day. It keeps them safe away from heavy lifting and lets you focus on the move. If they are with you, pack a day bag of snacks, drinks and familiar toys.

How do I help a child settle into a new home?

Set up their bedroom first so they have a familiar, finished space on the first night. Keep mealtimes and bedtimes to the usual routine, explore the new area together, and give them time; most children settle within a few weeks once the new place feels normal.

Should I move house during term time or the school holidays?

There is no single right answer. Moving in the holidays avoids disrupting school and gives time to settle, while an in-term move keeps the school routine going. If you are changing schools, coordinate the timing with both schools and the local authority.

How do I tell schools we are moving?

Tell your current school as soon as plans are firm, and apply for a place at the new school through the local authority for the area you are moving to. If the move crosses council boundaries, contact the new area's admissions team early, as in-year places depend on availability.