Packing up your kids' rooms can be one of the most challenging tasks you'll undertake during the moving process. It's one of the hardest rooms to downsize--after all, no child wants to be told that they won't be able to have all their toys when they move!--and one of the most difficult to pack because of all of the items within it. How do you decide what to take with you and what to move with the rest of the household goods? Most importantly, do you move your furniture and other valuable items through a moving company, or should you ship them using a freight company?
Start with the furniture. If it's old furniture that your child has almost outgrown or cheap furniture that will be easy to replace at the other end of your move, it might be a better idea to sell the furniture instead of shipping it. On the other hand, if you have an expensive bedroom set or one that has sentimental value to your child, it's worth the effort to ship it.
Shipping a bedroom set can be accomplished several ways. One way is to use a freight company that will pick up your bedroom set, palletize it, and deliver it the way that works best for you: either through curbside delivery, where it will be delivered to the front of your home; or through white glove delivery, where the shipping company will deliver the furniture inside your home, remove the packing materials, and inspect it for you. The latter option may be the easiest option for you: it removes most of the stress of shipping those items.
Another way is to use a traditional moving company. Many companies today offer both options. Freighting furniture may be less expensive than a traditional move.
Tackle the closet. It's usually easier for a child to let go of outgrown clothes than it is for them to let go of other possessions. As you're packing, get rid of any clothing items that no longer fit. You can donate them, sell them, or pass them on to someone else--whatever gets them out of your house quickly and easily. Next, choose which clothes are going to travel with you. You should have enough of your child's clothes to get them through until the rest of your boxes arrive, but not so many that you'll regret dragging them around everywhere. Make sure you check out the weather at your destination. If it's going to be hot and sunny, you can go ahead and pack the sweatshirts and boots; on the other hand, if it's going to be cold, you don't need short-sleeve shirts and sandals.
Pack the clothing that isn't appropriate for the season at the bottom of the clothing boxes. That way, your child will be able to get to seasonally-appropriate clothing as soon as the boxes arrive. Don't be tempted to do it the other way just to motivate them to help unpack; that's more likely to result in a mess that you'll have to deal with.
Let your child participate in packing their toys. This might slow down the process, but it will also help reassure your child that everything will be there when they reach their new home. Let them help you choose the toys that they don't play with anymore, and donate or sell them. For the toys that they still use, pack their favorites on top so that they'll be able to access them more quickly. Don't forget to put a few of their favorites in the luggage that will be traveling with them--and any particularly precious toys should absolutely travel in your luggage.
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