What should I plan for toddlers on moving day?

For toddlers, it is a good idea to have relatives or friends look after them on the actual moving day so that they are not caught up in the hustle and bustle of the removal crew. A bag with favourite toys, snacks and drinks gives them a sense of security. That way the stressful day stays calm for the little ones and the family move goes more smoothly.

How do I register my child at the new school in good time?

Contact the new school early, ideally as soon as the moving date is fixed, and ask about the documents needed, such as school reports and the registration certificate. Many schools offer taster days that make the change of school easier. With a long-distance move to another federal state, different curricula may be relevant, and the school should inform you about this.

How does changing nursery work when you move?

Apply for a nursery place in the new city as early as possible, as waiting lists are often long; if the family is moving to Berlin, you need a nursery voucher (Kita-Gutschein) from the youth welfare office (Jugendamt). A visit to the new nursery before the move helps the child. Say goodbye at the old nursery consciously, for example with a small party in the group.

What is the best way to set up the children's room after moving in?

If possible, set up the children's room first so that your child immediately has a familiar retreat in the new home. Familiar furniture, posters and cuddly toys should be unpacked first. This prioritisation makes emotional settling in after a family move considerably easier and quickly creates a sense of security.

What do I need to consider for pets during the move?

Pets react sensitively to change, so on moving day they should be kept in a quiet room or with friends. Familiar blankets and toys help them settle into the new home. For a family move with animals, we also recommend arranging a change of vet early.

How do I pack the children's room efficiently?

Start with toys that are rarely used and pack favourite items last so that they remain available until the end. Label boxes clearly with names and the room to make unpacking easier. On request, our moving company provides sturdy moving boxes especially for delicate toys.

How much does a family move cost on average?

The costs depend on the distance, the amount of furniture and additional services such as a packing service. With our fixed-price model you receive a binding calculation in advance with no hidden fees. Via our private move service you can request an individual quote that suits your family situation.

How does a part load work for a family move?

With a part load , your household goods are transported together with other moves going in the same direction, which lowers the costs considerably. This option is particularly suitable for smaller family moves with a manageable amount of furniture. We coordinate the dates flexibly so that everything arrives on time despite the shared load.

What insurance do I need for my family's move?

For damage during loading and transport, we are liable under the German Commercial Code (HGB) at €620 per cubic metre of required cargo space (§ 451e HGB). For particularly valuable or emotionally significant items, additional insurance is available on request; keepsakes such as photo albums are best transported yourself. We clarify questions about the scope before moving day .

How long does a long-distance move with a family take?

The duration of a long-distance move depends on the distance and the amount of household goods; one to three days including loading and unloading is usual. For families, it is advisable to stay overnight elsewhere if the new flat is not yet fully furnished on the day of arrival. We plan the route so that children have as little waiting time as possible.

How do I deal with my child's separation anxiety about leaving the old home?

Allow your child to say goodbye consciously to the old home and friends, for example with a small farewell party. Photos of the old flat can serve as a keepsake and ease the sadness. With a family move , it also helps to discover the positive aspects of the new home together early on.

SAYING GOODBYE

Saying Goodbye to the Old Home: How Children Come to Terms with a Move

Q: How far in advance should I prepare my children for the move?

Ideally, tell school-age children a few weeks before moving day so that there is enough time for questions and goodbyes. Toddlers understand abstract periods of time less well; it helps them more to hear about it shortly beforehand and to cross off the days on a countdown calendar. With a family move , communicating early means fewer fears and more anticipation of the new home.

When children should hear about the move, which farewell rituals help and how parents can deal with sadness and separation anxiety.

Get a quote

Our services

Customer service01625978461

Google · 119 reviews

(5,0/5)

Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00 Uhr

Red box van on a paved square in front of trees

GOODBYES WITH RITUALS

Saying goodbye with children

Say goodbye well, arrive well

Moving with sensitivity

Unsere Firma Saying goodbye to the old home: explain in an age-appropriate way, plan rituals, keep friendships and take separation anxiety seriously.

For children, the old flat is more than four walls: this is where their first bed of their own stood, and their best friend lives two doors down. A family move therefore often feels like a loss to them at first. Children who are allowed to say goodbye consciously usually settle into the new home more easily. So that you have time for this in the final weeks, we take care of packing, carrying and setting up for a private move.

Plan the goodbye as part of the move: a last visit to the playground, a party with friends, photos of every room. Say goodbye to the nursery, school and club too, and collect your friends' addresses. We give you the fixed price after the survey; whether within the city or as a long-distance move – we are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide, see Locations.

Sofa wrapped in stretch film, cushions and stacked moving boxes in an empty flat

50,-DISCOUNT

TIME FOR CHILDREN

PERSONAL ADVICE

More time for goodbyes, less for boxes

Fixed price after a survey

The last weeks in the old flat should belong to the children, not the boxes. If we pack the kitchen and living room, there is time left for farewell visits and rituals. After the survey we give you the fixed price for the agreed services, and the moving day is fixed.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

Two movers in red T-shirts lift a film-wrapped piece of furniture into a lorry

A CALM GOODBYE

What we take on while you say goodbye

Packing, carrying, setting up

Saying goodbye takes time, and that is often in short supply in the weeks before a move. We take the heavy tasks off your hands: packing the kitchen and fragile items, dismantling furniture, transporting it and reassembling it in the new home. Your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB), and additional insurance is available on request. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide – destinations with their own page under Locations.

Packing service

If we pack the kitchen and books, your evenings are free for farewell visits to friends, grandparents and neighbours rather than for packing tape.

Assembly service

We only dismantle the child's bed on moving day and set it up first at the new place – so the goodbye ends with a night in a familiar bed.

No-parking zone

A short moving day leaves time for a last walk through the empty flat. In Berlin the signs must be up at least 72 hours beforehand.

Furniture transport

The treasure chest, the favourite shelf, the children's drawings from the wall: what matters to children we load carefully padded and clearly labelled.

FAREWELL RITUALS

Six rituals for saying goodbye

Rituals give the goodbye a shape. Especially during a family move, they help children to let go of the old consciously and take memories with them, instead of the move simply rolling over them. These six ideas work at any age.

Farewell party

A small party with friends, neighbours and the nursery group: children see that people are thinking of them – and the goodbye gets a lovely setting.

Photo book

Photos of every room, the playground and friends make a memory book for the new children's room.

Friends' address book

Friends write their address, phone number and a picture in a notebook. That way contact remains possible, and the child has something to look at.

Last walk-through

On moving day, walk through the empty flat together and say goodbye to each room – this helps younger children in particular.

Nursery and school

A farewell in the group or class, perhaps with cake, makes the change tangible for everyone involved.

Plan a reunion

A fixed date for a visit or video call after the move shows that saying goodbye does not mean friendships end.

SMALL LOADS

Part load for late arrivals

Not everything has to go straight away

Not everything has to go on moving day: garden furniture, a playhouse or bicycles from the cellar can follow later. A part load is suitable for such smaller quantities: your goods travel on an existing route and share the cargo space with other consignments.

Open cargo space of a red lorry with wrapped furniture, panels and boxes

SAYING GOODBYE

Letting
go without losing

Supporting children as they say goodbye

This part of the series is about saying goodbye: when and how to tell children about the family move, which rituals make it easier to leave the flat, friends, nursery and school, and how to deal with sadness and separation anxiety. Practical points are part of it too, such as cancelling club or music school memberships within the notice period. What happens after the move is covered in the article Moving stress in children; tips for long distances under Long-distance moves.

Announcing the move

School-age children need a few weeks' notice, toddlers rather shortly beforehand and a countdown calendar. What matters is that children hear it from their parents – not by chance from others or while packing.

Planning rituals

A farewell party, a photo book, an address notebook for friends and a last walk through the empty flat give the goodbye a shape that children like to remember.

Allowing sadness

Crying, anger or withdrawal are normal reactions. Take the feelings seriously, keep up rituals and seek advice if the sadness persists for a long time.

Mover in red workwear pushing a sack truck with a box towards a stack of boxes

MoabitBased at Stromstraße 21

Google 5.0 (119 reviews)

Two movers in dungarees carry moving boxes through a bright flat

FAQ

Questions about saying goodbye to the old home

Announcing the move, rituals and separation anxiety.

Ideally, tell school-age children a few weeks before moving day so that there is enough time for questions and goodbyes. Toddlers understand abstract periods of time less well; it helps them more to hear about it shortly beforehand and to cross off the days on a countdown calendar. With a family move, communicating early means fewer fears and more anticipation of the new home.

When and how children should find out about the move

Children should hear about the move from their parents, not by chance from a conversation or because boxes suddenly appear in the hallway. You can tell school-age children a few weeks beforehand so that there is time for questions and goodbyes. Toddlers do not yet have a good sense of time; it helps them more to hear about it shortly beforehand and to cross off the days on a countdown calendar.

Explain honestly and in an age-appropriate way why the family is moving, and also talk about what stays the same: parents, siblings, the cuddly toy, their own furniture. Ask what is worrying your child instead of only talking about the advantages of the new home.

Farewell rituals and separation anxiety

A farewell party with friends, a photo book of the old room or a notebook in which friends write their addresses help children to let go consciously. Say goodbye at the nursery, school and club too; cancel memberships and courses in good time according to the respective notice periods. On moving day, a last walk through the empty flat can round things off.

Sadness, anger or clinging are normal reactions. Keep up familiar rituals such as the bedtime story and plan a fixed reunion with best friends. If the separation anxiety lasts for weeks, talking to the paediatrician or a family counselling service can help.

What does the move cost? Prices at a glance

Category	Price
1 room	from €369
2 rooms	from €589
3 rooms	from €915
4 rooms	from €1,344
House/villa	individual quote
Long-distance move	from €3.90/km

Use the free survey to find out your fixed price.

What makes a move more or less expensive

Larger volumes mean more work, as does a long distance (from €3.90/km). Without a lift, carrying to higher floors takes more effort. A reserved no-parking zone makes things easier on site; in Berlin the signs are put up at least 72 hours beforehand. The service can be extended with furniture assembly and a part load.

Services that make time for saying goodbye

While you say goodbye, we take care of furniture and boxes:

Furniture transport: From the sofa to the wardrobe, transported safely.
Office relocation: Discreet and reliable for your business.
Part load: Cost-effective thanks to shared cargo space.
Move with assembly: A complete service including furniture assembly.
House clearance: We create space and dispose of items properly.
Private move: Your private move in safe hands.

Long-distance move: saying goodbye across a great distance

With a long-distance move, saying goodbye is harder because spontaneous visits are no longer possible – plan the first reunion at the same time. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide: destinations in the locations overview, the process under Long-distance moves.

Guides & Tips

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 26, 2026

Back to Blog

Guides & Tips Moving Tips

Moving your balcony, terrace and garden in summer