How to pack toys when moving

It is during the transitional and emotional period that children most of all need the comfort of their favorite toys. Moving to Florida with a family is a great example of such a stressful and difficult transition. When the fear of the unknown and the feeling of loss almost inevitably lead to strong anxiety and insecurity. To reverse the negative psychological effects that your move can have on your children, you need to assure them of your unconditional love and support, convince them of the wonderful new life that awaits you, encourage and inspire their adventurous spirit and promise them that they will not lose anything that currently makes them happy, including their cherished toys. But do you know how to pack toys when moving, so they come safe and sound and ready to play?

What packing strategies to use?

• Be thoughtful. Make a mental list of your kids’ favorite toys. Watch your kids for a week and write down the toys they use most often. And then make sure that these specific items remain out of the boxes until the very last moment. Start packing toys that your children don’t seem to be particularly interested in and probably won’t miss;
• Involve the children. If your children are old enough to understand what is happening, explain the situation in detail. Reassure your little ones that the toys that disappear in the moving boxes are not lost forever. And that they can play with them again as soon as you arrive at your new home. Also, let them help you pack toys when moving. They can wrap toys in wrapping paper, place them in boxes, label and decorate the boxes as they want. That way you can entertain your kids during a move. It is also a good idea to encourage your children to think about their new room. Where they would like to place their belongings, how they intend to decorate it, etc. This will add a very positive perspective to your move;
• Set clear limits. Let your children choose a set of toys that they will use over the next few weeks. And let them know that everything else goes into moving boxes until your arrival at your new home.

How to sort toys?

Throwing all the toys of your children into moving boxes without sorting them in the first place, of course, is out of the question. You need to go through all the toys in your house and decide which one to take with you to a new place. If your children are not too small, include them in the sorting process:

• Set aside your children’s favorite toys. Separate your children’s favorite toys and make sure there’s plenty of room in your “essentials box”. This way, your children can find solace in their most cherished toys at any time during the stressful process of relocation, including a trip to your new home;
• Throw away broken toys. It makes no sense to move battered and tattered toys or toys that lack pieces. Discuss this with your children and convince them that throwing out broken old toys is a mature thing you have to do. Your young ones will most likely agree because it will make them feel more responsible and grown up;
• Sacrifice overgrown and rarely used toys. All toys that are still in good condition but are no longer played with can make the other child happy. The best thing you can do is give them to friends or neighbors or donate them to kindergartens, orphanages or other charitable organizations, such as Toys for Tots.

How to pack toys when moving?

When sorting the toys of your children, you must properly pack those that are worth moving to your new home. The best choice for packing toys is to hire one of the Miami long distance moving companies to do that for you. But, if you don’t want to hire them, we have some advice for you.

Adequate packing materials

You will need several moving boxes of medium size and several large boxes to pack toys for transportation. Make sure that you have enough wrapping paper and bubble wrap to ensure the safety of the toys during transportation, as well as quality packing tape to secure the boxes and permanent markers for proper labeling. Hermetic plastic bags are also useful for packing tiny pieces.

Toy packing tips

1. Line the boxes with shredded wrapping paper to provide additional cushioning;
2. Put very small toys and accessories in sealed plastic bags so that they are not lost;
3. Wrap any delicate toys that are easily damaged (for example, toys with moving parts, remote-controlled helicopters, model airplanes, model trains, etc.), in wrapping paper or bubble wrap, before putting them in the boxes;
4. Drain water from water guns and other water toys and make sure they are completely dry before packing them. Remember to seal paints and other art supplies securely to prevent leaks or stains;
5. First, place the sturdier toys in the box. Fill the remaining empty space with smaller toys and sealed bags with tiny objects;
6. Fill the gaps with crumpled paper, soft tissue materials, or packing peanuts to prevent movement during transport;
7. Use packing tape to seal the boxes and do not forget to mark them with content and special handling instructions.

Packing toys during the move is an important step in the process of moving, which can also be quite instructive and exciting! This gives you the opportunity not only to declutter before packing and teach your kids to take care of their things, but also to talk with them about their fears and hopes and reduce the inevitable anxiety.