Moving Day Survival Kit

Preparing a survival kit can make moving day run so much smoother as you won’t have to continuously rummage through boxes to find the essentials.

On the day of your house move when you’re busy organizing your family and overseeing the removal men, you might find it difficult to think about your next steps once you get to the other end.

Preparing a survival kit can make moving day run so much smoother and by creating a list and packing your essential items, you’ll be able to keep your vital items close at hand for when you need them most after you’ve moved.

Keeping everything you’ll need for the first few days in one place also allows you to concentrate on unpacking and getting your new house in order, meaning you’ll get settled in quickly and quietly and with the minimum of hassle.

Preparing your moving day survival kit

Before your removal team arrives, group together your moving essentials to be kept separate to all your other items, and make sure you let the team know that you will be bringing these items yourself.

Each family member will need an overnight bag, containing nightclothes and a change of clothes for the next day. It might be easier to take all your essential bathroom items together in one large travel bag rather than having individual bags.

Here is our extensive list of items that you may find useful to keep in your moving day survival kit:

From the kitchen

• Mug, plate, knife, fork and spoon for each family member
• Instant coffee/tea
• Kettle
• Bottled water (if water at new house isn’t switched on)
• Soft drinks
• Paper plates
• Plastic utensils / cutlery
• Paper towels
• Teaspoons
• Cooking equipment or takeaway menus
• Provisions for next day’s breakfast
• Snacks

From the bedroom

• Bed Linen
• Phone and phone chargers
• Alarm clock
• Change of clothes for all family members

From the bathroom

• Towels
• Toiletries
• Toilet paper
• Soap
• Cleaning supplies
• First aid kit containing painkillers, plasters, etc.
• Any essential medication your family needs

From the toolbox

• Basic tools e.g. screwdrivers, drill, hammer
• Masking tape or PVC tape
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Flashlight

Other accessories

• Pencils and paper
• A few light bulbs
• Trash bags
• Shelf liners
• Portable radio or iPod
• Pet food / water bowls / bedding & accessories

During your house move you might forget to think about the items you’ll need for the rest of your family, like your children for example. Moving house can be a stressful and confusing time for them, so we’ve included a few essential items that you might want to pack for them too.

Moving house with children

Moving house can be one of the most stressful times in your life and the process isn’t made much easier when you have children to think about. The upheaval and change in your children’s routine during the house move can have a serious knock-on effect and leave them feeling confused. It’s important to help them understand what’s going on around them, which can often make the move much easier.

For young children

• DVD player and a couple of DVD’s
• 2-3 books
• Baby changing supplies for very young children
• A couple of games for entertainment
• A couple of soft toys for comfort

If you’re still struggling to help your children come to terms with a new school, a new home and new surroundings, then there are lots of other ways to try and explain the process of moving house. Reading books and sharing stories is a great way to bond with your children and help them understand the different changes in their life.

Take a look at our list of books below:

Moving House (Usborne First Experiences)
by Anna Civardi (Author), Stephen Cartwright (Illustrator)
Age Range: 3 +
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
Synopsis: This book helps children understand the different aspects of moving house in a simple way. The story follows the Sparks family as they sell their house and move to a new one, with enough rooms so the children don’t have to share a bedroom anymore. They meet their nice, new neighbours and the children make new friends.

Topsy and Tim: Move House
by Jean Adamson  (Author), Gareth Adamson (Author)
Age Range: 3 +
Publisher: Ladybird (1 Jan. 2015)
Synopsis: From packing the house before the move to seeing removals vans on moving day, this book covers all the stages during the moving house process. It also features a missing cat (who gets found!) and helps explain to children the importance of caring for pets during a move too!

Moving Day! (Helping Hands)
by Jess Stockham (Illustrator)
Age Range: 1+
Publisher: Child’s Play (International) Ltd
Synopsis: This book is aimed at younger children to encourage them to help with the simple tasks involved in moving house. With simple, conversational text and detailed illustrations, this book helps children understand what to pack and how to move house.

Our New House (Tiny Tales)
by Rebecca Finn (Author, Illustrator)
Age Range: 1+
Publisher: Scholastic
Synopsis: This book has been designed for toddlers to help reassure them about moving house for the first time. It also includes a jigsaw puzzle to support the development of hand-eye co-ordination.

Two Nests
by Laurence Anholt (Author), Jim Coplestone (Illustrator)
Age Range: 3+
Publisher: Francis Lincoln Children’s Books
Synopsis: Focussing on the sensitive topic of divorce, this gentle story shows children how they can enjoy a happy relationship with both parents at different homes. The story follows a baby bird going between the two nests to be with mum and dad in two loving houses.

We’re Moving House (First Time Stories)
by Heather Maisner (Author), Kristina Stephenson (Illustrator)
Age Range: 3+
Publisher: Kingfisher Books Ltd
Synopsis: This book helps children who are feeling sad about moving house. It follows the story of Amy and her brother Ben, who move to a new house and miss their friends from back home. With gentle text and sweet illustrations, this book includes lots of positive messages about creating a new and happy life in a new home.

I Want to Go Home! (Little Princess)
by Tony Ross  (Author)
Age Range: 3+
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd
Synopsis: This colourful story book helps children understand the concept of change through humorous text and sweet illustrations. It features the Little Princess who moves to a new castle, but she wants to go to her old home – only to find that the people living there are quite different and it’s not her ‘home’ at all anymore.

Where Am I Going?: Moving House (Tough Times)
by Clare Beswick (Author), Sally Featherstone (Author)
Publisher: Featherstone Education Ltd
Synopsis: A short book to help support young children who may be experiencing stress and anxiety when moving house.

The House That Wanted a Family
by Susan Spence Daniel  (Author)
Age Range: 4 +
Publisher: Inspiring Voices
Synopsis: Told from the perspective of a house, this charming story is sweet and unique. The House that Wanted a Family tells the tale of a house that is for sale, waiting for a new family. It’s a great way to help children think about moving house in a different way and look forward to moving into a new home.

My New Home
by Marta Altés (Author)
Age Range: 3+
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books
Synopsis: This creative story tells the tale of a little racoon who is scared about moving home. Written from a child’s perspective, this is a lovely book about kindness, making new friends and acceptance during a confusing time. It’s a great book for children that are worried about moving house and looking for reassurance.

Unfortunately, there is no right time to move when you have children, but there are ways to make the process a whole lot easier.

For young children, reassurance and support may be all that it takes to help them get used to a new home and new surroundings, while older children might just need to feel like they’re part of the move too. A great way to do this is by giving them little tasks to keep them busy and feeling included, like color-coding boxes or packing their own box.

With all this packed in your moving day survival kit you’ll be prepared for any eventuality. It may also be worth taking a box containing your toaster, an all-purpose pan and other small appliances with you in the car – along with a bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses to celebrate once you arrive in your new home!