3 Kids and Us

How to Make Moving Less of a Pain

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If you’ve never moved before, count yourself lucky. In survey after survey, moving consistently ranks among the most stressful life events, right alongside divorce and the death of a loved one. Naturally, if you have an upcoming move, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make it less stressful and easier on your entire family. So, in today’s guide, we’re going to take a closer look at how to make moving less of a pain!

Make a Moving Day Checklist In Advance

Nothing throws a wrench in your moving day plans like a lack of organization. If you don’t make a checklist well before moving day arrives, you will likely feel agitated and overwhelmed. Fortunately, you can largely bypass these feelings by preparing for what’s to come. Make sure your checklist accounts for the people and vehicles you will need, as well as all of the larger items that must be moved. Don’t forget little things like having a phone charger on hand, as it could end up being a real life-saver!

Give Away Things You Don’t Want

One of the biggest issues associated with moving is taking inventory of all the stuff you own. Many families are shocked at the sheer number of things in their homes. However, if you’re like most people, you still hold on to plenty of things that you don’t actually want or need. Consider donating unwanted clothing, furniture, and other household items to charity or even giving them away to friends and family. Getting rid of these items ahead of moving day will greatly reduce the number of boxes and vehicles you’ll need to get everything moved to your new home.

Hire Professional Movers

It can be tempting to save a few bucks and try to do everything on your own. Unfortunately, you’ll quickly find that trying to manage a big move without some hired muscle is an enormous undertaking. Not only can it be stressful, but you may find that you don’t have the right equipment to move bigger items in your home. So, don’t be afraid to invest in a reliable moving company like Black Tie Moving. Not only will you have people to do most of the heavy lifting for you, but you’ll also eliminate a lot of the stress associated with changing homes.

Make Fun Arrangements For Your Kids

If you have young kids, you know that it can be difficult to get things done unless they are entertained. While older children and teenagers can be a huge help when moving, younger kids may not be able to help as much. Not only could they get hurt, but they could also get quickly bored with the activity. So, if possible, try to arrange to have young children entertained while you handle the move. For example, you might ask your parents or friends to watch your kids for the day. Alternatively, you could have one of your older children take the kids to the movies or to the park for a few hours. This will help keep your kids happy and make moving go by much faster!

Looking for more great advice on ways to make your busy life easier? Be sure to check out some of our other posts on 3 Kids and Us today!

Filed Under: DIY

3 Unique, Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Kids

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Buying Christmas gifts for children can be a challenge. While it might seem easy to purchase toys, games, or craft supplies for kids during the holiday season, it can be fairly overwhelming to find age appropriate gifts that most children don’t already have and will actually enjoy. Whether you work for hsi.com and have no time to do major holiday shopping or are just struggling to think of any ideas for gifts for the children in your life this season, here are some unique Christmas gifts that kids of all ages are sure to enjoy. 

Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball with Interactive Plush Toy

This viral toy made waves on TikTok among children and adults alike. The interactive crystal ball requires users to fill a pot with “ingredients” before revealing an adorable – and magical – stuffed animal. Although the crystal ball can only “create” one stuffed animal, the toy can be used again and again and serves as an awesome night light for any child’s room. This gift will be at the top of many kids’ Christmas lists this season!

Little Tikes Toby 2 Director’s Camera

These days, many children dream of becoming a digital content creator on sites like YouTube and TikTok. Help them achieve this dream by gifting them an age appropriate camera like the Little Tikes Toby 2 Director’s Camera. Equipped with its own professional tripod, this camera can take photos and videos that are available for instant playback, so children can create their own content just like their favorite creators. Plus, these videos cannot be transferred to a computer or other device without the use of a USB chord, so you can trust that your children’s photos and videos will be kept safe. This is a great gift for young children!

Nintendo Switch 

If you’re looking to splurge on a gift for a loved one, a foolproof gift for recipients of all ages is a Nintendo Switch. The Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles in the world, and is sure to be enjoyed by gamers of all ages – from young children all the way to their parents. With countless games available for physical purchase and instant download, the Switch is a gift that keeps giving, and is sure to be a hit this Christmas season.

3 Tips for Moving With Kids

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Moving can be a stressful time for anyone, but especially young children who might have difficulty adjusting to a new environment and handling the transitioning period. Whether you’re planning a cross country relocation for a new job or just moving to a new home on the other side of town, leaving behind the home that your child is familiar with and potentially requiring them to transfer schools and learn to navigate a new area can be equal parts upsetting and stressful. Moving is a fairly inevitable – and often worthwhile – part of life, and one that children are typically able to adjust to in time. Keep reading for a few simple tips on how to make moving easier for your child. 

Keep Explanations Simple 

Moving can be overwhelming for young children as they might feel like everything around them is changing, without them having any say. To avoid overwhelming them further and giving them anxiety about any potential factors of the move that could be challenging, try keeping your explanations to a minimum until your child comes to you with questions about what is happening. For many parents, this can be as simple as letting your small child know that you are moving to a new house where they will have a new, better bedroom and a different space to play. 

Pack Their Belongings Last 

To give your child a familiar safe haven amidst the chaos of moving, it is important to avoid packing up their room until it is absolutely necessary. The day before your movers from Black Tie Moving come to collect your belongings is a good time to pack up your child’s toys and bedding. Additionally, you should be sure to unpack their things and set up their bedroom as much as possible first, before doing anything else in your new home. It is important that your child has a place that is familiar to them and any items they might need to soothe themselves after a stressful day of moving. 

Let Them Say Goodbye

In the midst of the excitement of a move to a new home, don’t forget the importance of giving your child time to handle their emotions and say goodbye to your home, in addition to giving them time to say goodbye to friends, classmates, and teachers if your move is requiring them to switch schools. From taking plenty of pictures in your old house to letting them host a goodbye party with their friends, it is important for your child’s emotional health to give them the opportunity to say a proper goodbye to everyone and everything they want to. 

3 Safest Cities in America for Families

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Keeping your family safe is one of the most important responsibilities in life. One way you can do this is by relocating to a safe city with low crime rates and family-friendly communities. 

A safe city can provide a sense of security and peace of mind, which is vital for the well-being of family members. In a safe city, parents can feel more comfortable letting their children play outside and explore their surroundings without worrying about their safety. 

Additionally, a safe city often has a lower crime rate, which can help reduce the risk of theft, violence, and other crimes that can affect families. 

Below are three of the safest cities in the United States. 

Frisco, Texas

Frisco, Texas, was determined to be the safest city in the United States in 2022. Families can comfortably live in this mid-sized city with meager crime rates. Located just 25 miles from the Dallas-Forth Worth area, residents can easily access major city amenities. 

Frisco is also known for its passionate love of sports. With the Toyota Stadium, residents can enjoy baseball and soccer games. High school football is also a well-loved sport in the community. For families who are active in games and sports, Frisco may have an ideal community for you. 

McKinney, Texas

McKinney is a city located in the state of Texas and it is located about 30 miles north of Dallas. McKinney is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. 

McKinney is known for its historic downtown area, which features many 19th-century buildings and homes. The city also has several parks and recreational facilities, including the Towne Lake recreation area, which offers boating and other water-based activities. 

Overall, McKinney is a thriving and dynamic city that offers its residents a high quality of life.

Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita is located in the northern part of Los Angeles County, California. It is the third-largest city in Los Angeles County and the eighteenth-largest in California. 

Santa Clarita is located about 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The city is known for its picturesque scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the nearby Angeles National Forest and several state parks. 

Santa Clarita is also home to a number of successful businesses and industries, including the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park and the Valencia Town Center mall. It’s truly a vibrant and dynamic city that offers a beautiful and comfortable life for resident families. 

If you’re considering relocating to a safer city in the United States, get much-needed assistance from Black Tie Moving for a seamless and easy move. 

3 Reasons to take a Disney World Vacation in the Winter

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For many families around the country, there is nothing more exciting than planning a Disney World vacation. Whether you’re a stay at home parent or an executive at a company like Haines, taking a much needed vacation and spending time bonding as a family on a trip to Disney can be the highlight of your year. Many families around the nation opt to travel to Disney World in the summer, due in part to the fact that children are out of school on summer vacation, as well as the fact that the weather in Orlando, Florida tends to be beautifully warm from May – August. Although these are the most popular months to travel to the world famous theme park each year, many travel experts and Disney enthusiasts alike advise that traveling during the winter can actually be better. 

Keep reading to learn more about why traveling to Disney World in the winter is a good idea. 

Smaller Crowds

Since the majority of travelers head to Disney World during the summer, the theme parked can get packed during the warmer months of the year. Disney is infamous for its long lines and large crowds year round, but these factors are much worse during the park’s peak season (aka summertime). Traveling to the park in the winter can greatly reduce the amount of time that you are forced to spend waiting in line for your favorite rides and attractions, and can make navigating the park easier as there is not as big of a crowd to deal with. 

Better Weather

Although nice, sunny weather is important when it comes to spending several days walking around the Disney parks, there is no denying that the Florida heat and humidity can be a bit much on a hot summer day. Instead of dealing with temperatures that are frequently above 100 degrees and high levels of humidity, traveling to the park in the winter allows travelers to experience more bearable Florida temperatures that average between 60 and 80 degrees.

Holiday Attractions

One of the biggest reasons to visit the Disney parks during the winter is due to the holiday celebrations that take place at the park each year. From Mickey’s Christmas Party to the annual New Years Eve bash that takes place at the park and all of the fun to come in the months afterwards, visiting the park during the winter months gives travelers the opportunity to take advantage of numerous seasonal activities, events, and attractions that are worth the visit. 

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!