The Comprehensive Guide to Moving With a Child

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Moving With Small Children is a Big Challenge. Here’s How to Succeed.

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Best Cities for Bringing Up Adventurous Kids

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Hearken back to the days of yore when you were just a young ‘un. What was your favorite thing to do? Children love thrilling experiences and the novelty of trying something new—and it’s good for their brain. We explore the importance of childhood adventures and point out a few great cities that rate very well on key measures of adventure.

Why are adventures important in childhood?

Adventures teach your child about themselves and the world they live in. It helps them expand their minds, deepen their understanding, and gain empathy.

Children are constantly taking in stimuli, and adventuring, i.e., playing, exploring the unknown. This is crucial for providing a variety of novel experiences that help children develop into curious, well-rounded people. 

Adventure helps kids learn resilience, develop independent thinking, and understand what they’re capable of. Children who explore through adventurous play gain new social and behavioral skills as well as overcome challenges—all of which provide them with a sense of self-advocacy and confidence.

What kinds of adventures are good for kids?

Any and all of them! Children need challenging and fun experiences to help them grow, and really, no matter where you live, there’s no shortage of exciting adventures to share with your kids. Things you find old-hat—like a trip through the drive-thru car wash or hauling some stuff to the dump—may be brand-new and wondrous to them. 

Outdoor adventures: Instill a love of nature in your kids. Take them hiking, biking, picnicking, climbing, canoeing, stargazing, swimming, bug-catching, snorkeling, or whatever outdoor adventures you, yourself enjoy. Being out-of-doors improves your child’s chances of future health and success. They get sunshine exposure that gives them the vitamin D they need for healthy bones and a robust immune system. They learn to take some risks, which gives them confidence and courage. And hopefully, they learn to appreciate—and protect—our natural world.  

Educational adventures: In early childhood, small brains around a million neural connections every single second—far more than at any other time in life. These connections are formed through their experiences, and the type and quality of stimulation they get during these years helps determine which connections develop. Taking the kids to the children’s museum or your favorite science, history, natural history, or art museum, fills their little brains with knowledge.  

Culinary adventures: Children with an appetite for culinary adventures are sure to love trying new cuisines. Encourage their bold palate with foods they haven’t tried before. Hit up a new restaurant or food truck every so often, and devote a day a week to cooking new foods. 

Artistic adventures: Have a burgeoning Picasso in your midst? Check out nearby museums, and look for art shows in your area. Get your young art lover involved in the worlds of painting, sculpture, crafting, music, moviemaking, theatre, or dance. 

Travel adventures: Mountains, deserts, and oceans, oh my! If your kid has an insatiable wanderlust, they’ll love seeing new places and novel landscapes. Hit the road for trips to national parks, famous landmarks, and big cities. Encourage them to learn a second (or third) language. 

Thrill adventures: Even Evel Knievel was a kid once. Young thrill-seekers will get a kick out of amusement parks, white-water rafting, and climbing walls. Risky play—with supervision—boosts kids’ confidence and risk perception, and it reduces their chances of developing fears the could hold them back in life.

Backyard/at-home/playground adventures: You don’t have to leave your home — or even your neighborhood — to encourage your child’s adventurous side. Imaginative play, backyard treasure hunts, and allowing your child to take risks are ways to raise an adventurous kid right in the backyard.

What experts say about nurturing adventure—no matter where you live

Whether you’re isolated in rural Nebraska or locked in the concrete jungle of New York City, it’s possible to instill a sense of adventure in your offspring. Ann Pleshette Murphy, the author of The Secret of Play, lists five things parents should do if they want to raise an adventurous kid:

Create a safe environment. Your child will feel safe exploring and adventuring if they know you’re not going to get mad at them for taking risks and testing limits. Don’t yell, stay positive while they try new things, and be consistent and honest. Most importantly, display affection—hug ‘em, cuddle ‘em, and listen to everything they want to tell you. 

Let kids explore. It’s a knee-jerk reaction to say, “no” when your kid asks you to do something potentially risky or messy, like trying to cut their apple into slices with a knife or mixing flour with food dye just to see what happens. Instead of saying no automatically, let them try new things (with supervision, of course) so they experiment, problem-solve, and learn new skills. 

Hold back when your kid gets hurt. When a child falls and scrapes their hands, they immediately look to the adults around them for a reaction. Most of the time, if you don’t freak out, they don’t freak out. If your child gets hurt, wait for the reaction. If no tears are forthcoming, pretend like it didn’t happen. It might not be easy, but it’ll teach your sweet baby physical literacy and resilience. 

Accept all types of adventurousness. Your child’s idea of adventure might be different from the kind you enjoyed as a kid. Maybe you’ve got a shy kid who’s dipping their toes in the unknown by going to a big birthday party—that’s an adventure! Or your kid likes making artistic messes out of play-doh and water, an adventure in texture and color. Some children lean toward physical adventurousness—the fearless kid that swings fast and climbs high and nearly gives you heart failure every single day. These are all valid ways to be adventurous. Watch your kid, and follow their lead. 

Introduce them to things that scare them. Gently, of course! Say your kid is afraid of big dogs, even though they’ve never met one. Call up a friend with a great dane, or take your kid to the shelter to show them that big dogs can be very nice. Take a similar tactic with a child who’s afraid of heights—go to the top floor of a tall building, and let them enjoy the view and get accustomed to the height with your support. Soon, they’ll see that the things they once thought were scary aren’t so bad after all. 


We found nine US cities of different sizes in different regions where it’s easy to have all manner of experiences. We evaluated each city for family-friendliness:

  • Cost of living index (US average is 100)
  • Crime rate (US average is 22.7) Q
  • Quality of its education system

We also put the cities into three categories: those rife with outdoor adventures, those with endless opportunities for cultural discovery, and cities that are an excellent home base for taking road trips to new and exciting places.

Best Cities for Outdoor Adventures

Taking your kids on outdoor adventures is crucial for healthy childhood development. Unstructured time outdoors helps children develop creativity and executive functioning—working memory, mental flexibility, and self-control. Modern society is becoming more reliant on technology than ever before, and children are losing their connection to the natural world. Digging in the dirt, seeing wild animals, and getting lots of sunshine are great ways for kids to start appreciating nature.

Here are the top three cities to live in for outdoor adventures.    

Boulder, Colorado 

Population: ~106,000

Cost of living index: 167.4

Violent crime rate: 13.5

Education: A. Boulder Valley School District ranks #4 out of 80 Colorado districts. 

Why it’s a great place for outdoor adventures:

Seated at the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains, Boulder has it all: Breathtaking scenery, a pleasurable climate, and tons of spectacular options for outdoor adventures are just the beginning of what this Colorado city has to offer. National Geographic has even rated Boulder as the happiest city in the US

Young outdoor enthusiasts will love Boulder for its plentiful hiking and biking trails. The Open Space and Mountain Parks have trails that go through open land brimming with Colorado’s native flora and fauna, set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Rockies—which themselves are packed with adventures year-round.

Some of the many outdoor activities in and around Boulder include rock climbing at the famous Flatiron rock formations, picnicking in Boulder Mountain Park, fishing in one of the city’s many prime fishing spots, tubing on Boulder creek, kayaking on Boulder Reservoir, exploring the wilderness surrounding the city.

More reasons to choose Boulder:

Boulder isn’t just an outdoor adventure lover’s paradise. It may have a small-town vibe, but it’s got big-city tastes, with a thriving foodie scene, incredible museums, a planetarium, and a vibrant downtown with all sorts of interesting things to do. For those who enjoy classical music—or who don’t, but want their kids to—Boulder even has its own chamber orchestra. And it’s just a half-hour drive to Denver and everything that a world-class city offers.

Bend, Oregon

bend oregon

Population: 197,756

Cost of living index: 123.5

Violent crime rate: 12.2

Education: B+ 

Why it’s a great place for outdoor adventures:

Bend is situated between the Cascade Range and the high desert in central Oregon, making it an outdoor playground with a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities. Known as “Bike City U.S.A.,” Bend has fantastic bike trails, including the Three Sisters Scenic Bikeway offering incredible views of the Three Sisters peaks in the Cascades. Mount Bachelor is an extinct volcano with some of the best skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding around, and Pilot Butte, located right in the city, is an ancient cinder cone with three hiking trails that reward you with gorgeous mountain and desert views

The Deschutes River in the heart of Bend invites kayakers, floaters, tubers, swimmers, and SUPers of all skill levels to its calm channel, and it welcomes whitewater rafters to its whitewater channel. The volcanic landscape around Bend is dotted with around 400 lava tube caves to explore, and nearby Smith River State Park features more than 1,800 climbing routes for novice climbers and experts alike.

More reasons to choose Bend:

When you’re not adventuring in the Great Outdoors, you’ll enjoy the urban adventures Bend offers. The Old Mill District alongside the Deschutes River is home to an eclectic selection of restaurants, shops, and the Les Schwab Amphitheater, the largest outdoor concert venue in Oregon. Bend loves festivals, and features them year-round, including Winterfest, Brewfest, and Art in the High Desert. The Downtown First Friday Art Walk offers an eyeful of local art and artists’ studios, and the Central Oregon Symphony and Cascades Theatre offer performances for the entire family.

Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake virginia

Population: 239,982

Cost of living index: 106.4

Violent crime rate: 18.1

Education: A

Why it’s a great place for outdoor adventures:

A suburb of Norfolk in Virginia, Chesapeake lies along the Elizabeth River on the Tidewater coastal plain and is crisscrossed by waterways galore. The nearby Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge covers 170 square miles of forested wetlands and is a major draw from hikers, birders, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts. Kayak or canoe deep into the cypress swamp, fish the 3,000-acre Lake Drummond, or hike the many trails, including the Elizabeth River Trail.

Chesapeake proper offers a large network of urban hiking and biking trails and numerous green spaces, both manicured and wild, and, of course, there’s the Chesapeake Bay, where you can engage in all manner of water activities. From Chesapeake, it’s just a 26-minute drive to Virginia Beach, where you can swim, surf, paddle, and kayak — or just lay on the beach and enjoy the waves.

More reasons to choose Chesapeake:

Chesapeake is home to world-class arts and entertainment experiences, including numerous galleries, museums, and theaters. The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art offers gallery exhibitions and studio art classes, and the city’s many history museums explore various aspects of the Civil War, including exciting reenactments, and the African American Heritage Trail is a self-guided tour exploring the people and places of the Revolutionary War and Civil War and the Underground Railroad.

DID YOU KNOW?

You can get Chesapeak, VA move help costs, FAQs, and stats for more than 10 move helpers with our move help in VA guide.

Best Cities for Cultural Adventures

Books and movies have massive educational benefits for children, but nothing compares to real experiences. Children who engage with art and culture learn to think about the world compassionately and with an open mind. Cultural awareness teaches kids about diversity and respecting people who live differently than they do.

Here are the best cities to live in to expose your child to all manner of cultural adventures.

Naperville, Illinois 

naperville illinois

Population: 147,501

Cost of living index: 129.6 

Violent crime rate: 10.2 

Education: A+. Ranked Number one city with the best public schools in America.

Why it’s a great place for cultural adventures:

Naperville is a stone’s throw from Chicago, which has world-class dining, entertainment, museums, and arts. But Naperville has its own cultural adventures, including a number of museums, like the Naper Settlement, the 1,700-acre Morton Arboretum, and the Knoch Knolls Nature Center, situated on the DuPage River. 

The downtown historic district boasts Naperville’s professional Bright Side Theatre, and the iconic Wentz Concert Hall features world-class acoustics and brings in a host of performances each year. Naperville’s Century Walk is made up of more than 40 pieces of public art and winds throughout the downtown area. The annual Bites and Sites Food Tour is a culinary adventure with plenty of fun stuff scheduled each year. Other great festivals in Naperville include Ribest, SoulFest, the Naper Nights outdoor community concert series, the Naper Pride Festival, Hometown Holidays, the St. Paddy’s Day Parade, and free municipal band concerts every Thursday in June. Naperville’s Last Fling festival is a four-day event over Labor Day featuring a carnival, national musical artists, a wide range of food vendors, and the largest Labor Day parade in Illinois.

More reasons to choose Naperville:

For outdoor and natural adventuring, Naperville offers the 2,000-acre Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve, a grassland prairie replete with walking trails. For water fun, Paddleboat Quarry is situated on the riverwalk and rents out paddle boats and kayaks. Cantigny Park features formal gardens, golfing, playgrounds, picnic spots, and three miles of hiking trails. 

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Population: 464,485

Cost of living index: 102.3

Violent crime rate: 20.3

Education: A 

Why it’s a great place for cultural adventures:

Known as the Smithsonian of the South for its many free-of-charge, high-quality museums and cultural institutions, Raleigh offers an abundance of fun and interesting cultural adventures for the whole family. The James B. Hunt Library is an architectural masterpiece and a tech-lover’s dream, featuring technological wonders including a robot that fetches books. The North Carolina Museum of Art features art, of course, but also trails, a theater, and a live music venue. The Juniper Level Botanic Garden showcases 27,000 different plant species throughout 28 acres, and the Municipal Rose Garden at the center of the Raleigh Little Theatre campus includes 60 varieties of roses and hosts a free outdoor movie series in the summer.

Home to the Carolina Hurricanes, Raleigh also sports a robust athletics scene that will entertain even the most novice sports-goers. The barbeque in Raleigh is off the charts, but if that’s not your jam, the city has over 1,200 restaurants to choose from. Just a few minutes away in the town of Cary is La Farm bakery, which is considered one of the best European-style bakeries in America. 

More reasons to choose Raleigh:

Proximity to wild spaces in the Great Outdoors is another perk of Raleigh. The mountains are less than three hours away in Western North Carolina, and just a few hours to the east are ocean beaches and the gorgeous Outer Banks. Raleigh also has plenty of lakes, rivers, and parks to explore.

Berkeley, California

berkeley

Population: 121,485

Cost of living index: 235.2

Violent crime rate: 28.5

Education: A+

Why it’s a great place for cultural adventures:

Berkeley is just 20 minutes away from the iconic cultural landmarks of San Francisco, but it’s less expensive than the City—and as a cultural hub in its own right, it’s full of colorful and exciting adventures. Berkeley is a city of art, home to the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Berkeley Art Museum, and the Pacific Film Archive. Numerous festivals and special events are put on each year by over 100 cultural arts organizations. 

The Telegraph District along Telegraph Avenue is the heart and soul of Berkeley. It boasts tons of quirky restaurants, adventurous boutiques, and some of the best people-watching in the country. Berkeley’s even got an art scene just for kids—the Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum and Adventure Playground will fill your offspring’s imagination with wonderful sights, sounds, and activities. 

More reasons to choose Berkeley:

Berkeley has a temperate climate that allows for outdoor fun all year round. Six magical Pacific Ocean beaches are within a two-hour drive of Berkeley. Land’s End, which is just 45 minutes away, has walking trails and offers a majestic view of the Pacific and Golden Gate Bridge. 

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Best Cities for Traveling Adventures (Day and Weekend Trips)

Traveling ignites your child’s imagination, curiosity, and sense of adventure. It introduces kids to new scenery, new food, and other ways of life, and it illustrates that despite the differences in landscape and culture, people everywhere are more or less the same.

Families who love to take to the road will find a wealth of opportunities for day trips and weekend getaways in these cities.

Newton, Massachusetts  

newton

Population: 88,593

Cost of living index: 215.5

Violent crime rate: 9.7

Education: A+

Why it’s a great place for traveling adventures:

A suburb of Boston, Newton offers close proximity to incredible cultural attractions, and it’s a great place to live if your family loves the road trip life. From Newton, you can enjoy easy weekend getaways to numerous big cities, quaint towns, the quiet countryside, the seaside, and scores of national parks in Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine. In just over three hours, you can be in the heart of New York City and all that metropolis offers.

Newton itself features plenty of adventures for weekends at home, including lots of dining, arts, and entertainment opportunities as well as outdoor destinations like Hemlock Gorge, found on one of Newton’s trails and featuring a beautiful, historic bridge that makes epic echoes. Scenic Crystal Lake is a great swimming spot with a small beach, and the Charles River, a prime canoeing spot, is worth the short drive any day of the week. 

More reasons to choose Newton:

Newton is a history buff’s dream, where history museums and historical landmarks abound. Farmers’ markets and world-class ribs will appease foodies, while Newton’s cultural festivals and theatre scene are sure to satiate the art lovers in your family.  

Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola

Population: 52,642

Cost of living index: 98.6

Violent crime rate: 35.7

Education: B-

Why it’s a great place for traveling adventures:

Pensacola, located on the Florida panhandle, is home to pristine, white-sand beaches, which is a must for many adventurous, outdoorsy families. But it’s also a great home base for weekend getaways. From Pensacola, you can get to New Orleans in under three hours, and just an hour away, you can visit the incredible historic sites in Mobile, Alabama. 

A few hours of scenic driving will get you to Tallahassee, the state capital, which is rife with Civil War sites and home to the impressive capitol building, the Museum of Florida History, the fascinating Lake Jackson Mounds Archeological State Park, and Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. About an hour away from Pensacola is the Black River State Forest, the largest forest in Florida, where you can camp, fish, boat, kayak, and canoe. Just down the road from Pensacola are numerous charming beach towns, including Destin, Fort Walton, and Seaside.

More reasons to choose Pensacola:

Pensacola has plenty to do without leaving the city. Ziplining, water parks, water sports on the Bay, and a multitude of museums will keep your family busy and entertained when you’re not on the road. Pensacola is also home to the Blue Angels, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, whose amazing aerial stunts can be seen during the month of July. 

Sacramento, California

sacramento

Population: 500,930

Cost of living index: 118.2

Violent crime rate: 35.6

Education: B

Why it’s a great place for traveling adventures:

Situated in northern California, Sacramento is the state capital, and it’s an affordable home base for an adventuring family. From Sacramento, it’s a quick and easy trip to Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, and San Francisco. Within about three hours, you can be on the famous beaches of Marin County, and in five hours, you’ll be staring up at the tallest redwood tree on earth. 

Watersport enthusiasts rejoice! Unlike most of California, Sacramento is home to scores of rivers and lakes. These waterways provide ample opportunity for day trips to go boating, fishing, swimming, rafting, hiking, and more. 

More reasons to choose Sacramento:

Sacramento is a beautiful city filled with eclectic neighborhoods and great food. It has a rich history from the Gold Rush days and is home to one of the oldest triathlons in the nation. Sacramento is a cultural hub, boasting lots of annual festivals and carnivals and home to the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera.


Although all of these cities are great places to raise an adventurous kid, nearly any town or city will do, as long as you engage in activities that are new and exciting for your child!

Check with your local tourism office for a comprehensive list of everything your location offers. Chances are, you’ll discover fun things to do that you had no idea existed—and you’ll find yourself enjoying exciting adventures with wide-eyed wonder, right alongside the children.

And, if you do decide to relocate your adventurous children cross-country, let movers do the heavy lifting and transporting for you.

How to Choose the Right School for Your Kids Before You Move

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There are many factors that go into choosing a new home … the size, the layout, the number of bedrooms and the cost. But if you’re a parent, soon-to-be-parent or a someday-parent, then there’s another thing you really have to factor in: the school.

As a teacher, a soon-to-be mom and a homeowner who just moved to be in the school district of her dreams, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately! When looking for a new home, my husband and I narrowed down the location based on the best public school district in our area. There were plenty of homes we loved that were outside of the exact district lines, but we chose to ignore those open houses so we could concentrate specifically on finding the home AND school of our dreams for our child.

But how do you even go about finding the best school for your child? What information is important to consider? That’s what today’s “lesson plan” is all about!

Consider Private vs. Public

First up, you need to choose between private or public schooling. The primary difference between these two options comes down to funding. Public schools typically receive government funding, whereas private schools charge tuition for each student. Let’s look at how that impacts other critical factors.

The Cost of Schooling

Here’s the 101 on private and public school financials.

Because public schools are financed through federal, state and local taxes, they must follow all the rules set by the government. Unfortunately, sometimes this can lead to some public school systems being underfunded. For us in the Chicagoland area, the location of the district makes a big difference for how well-funded it is. Obviously, better funded public schools are often found where the average housing costs are higher. Therefore, families often pay extra in housing costs to live in the “ideal” neighborhoods in order to be in the best public school districts. When it comes to admission, by law, public schools must accept all children. And a lot of kids are attending public school … about 90% of children in America, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Conversely, private schools generate their own funding through tuition, private grants and fundraising efforts. According to the National Association of Independent Schools, the median tuition fee for private schools is close to $12,000 per year. Often times parochial schools charge much less than that (around $3,000 per year), whereas boarding schools often come with a higher price tag (up to $37,000 per year).

Because these institutions are in demand, private schools can be selective when it comes to admission. This means that the admission process often involves interviews, essays and testing for each student.

The Best Location

But how does choosing public or private affect where you’re going to live?

If you choose the private school route, you’ll have a bit more leeway into where you choose to settle down. But of course, you will want to consider your child’s commute to school every day. Often times private schools do not offer transportation, or if they do, it’s with extra fees, so making sure your child will have a safe and efficient way to get to and from their private school is definitely something to consider.

Public schools are a little more complex. Namely, there are specific district lines that you must live within in order to send your child there. In fact, all districts require proof of residency before you can enroll your kids in a public school. When you’re searching for a new home, often the listing on sites like Zillow and Redfin will include the nearby schools and give a “School Rating.” But if you’re buying a home, it’s always best to call the district to verify, especially because district lines can suddenly change and the real estate site’s information may not accurately reflect this updated information just yet.

Check out a School’s Report Card

Just like kids, schools get report cards too! But it’s up to you to do your homework online to gather all of this crucial info. Both GreatSchools.org and The National Center for Education Statistics offer data for each school district, including information on test scores, education programs, graduation rates, and teacher quality.

When it comes to teachers, there is a difference in certification between public and private schools. Teachers in public schools are usually state certified, whereas teachers in private schools may not be required to have certification. They often have subject-matter expertise or an undergraduate degree in the subject they teach, but actually don’t always have to meet the standards that the state outlines for a teaching license.

Also, don’t forget to review the curriculum at the schools you’re considering!

This isn’t always the same between private and public schools. Public schools follow state guidelines, a curriculum that must meet specific standards and common state assessments, while private schools have the freedom to design their own curriculum and don’t always mandate standardized tests.

To get real reviews from other parents about their school satisfaction, you can check out GreatSchools.org. Here, parents write detailed reviews about their school’s curriculum, class sizes and thoughts on the teachers. This real talk may be insightful as you narrow down your top choices.

Consider Your Child’s Personality

But those “report cards” don’t always give the full picture. Because every child is different, be sure to think about the unique qualities and characteristics of your child when choosing a school. The right combination is not always super obvious.

With that in mind, when finalizing your top school contenders don’t forget to review:

  • Class sizes
  • Student-teacher ratio
  • Special education needs
  • Accelerated programs
  • Extracurricular activities

Make sure you’re giving your child what they need from their education! Consider questions like these: Is your child introverted? Does she like a particular sport? Does he need special attention or accommodations? Answer these crucial questions about your child while thinking about the list above.

Private schools may have programs for gifted students and can specialize programs to offer extra curriculum surrounding the arts or technology. However, most private schools are not able to fully accommodate students with learning disabilities. Because public schools have a responsibility to teach all students, they often have programs set up and funded just for children with individualized academic or developmental needs.

Extra Credit: Ask the Neighbors

If you’re really interested in a neighborhood and school, speak to parents in that area. This is a great way to gauge the area and see if the parents there are satisfied. If you find glowing reviews from real parents, chances are you can trust that they are doing a stellar job!


When it comes to deciding between private or public school (and choosing a school district), it’s important to remember that it’s a very personal choice for you and your family. There is no right or wrong answer. Do your homework, but at the end of the day know that only you can make the best decision for your family.

As for me, even though my baby isn’t here yet, I’m happy to know that when school time eventually gets here we already have our ideal home and school district all planned out for his future. That’s because we did our homework before we started searching for a new home!

House Hunting While Expecting? Don’t Forget About These Things

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As a mom-to-be, I had one thing in mind when my husband and I were recently house hunting while expecting: a space that was ideal for our growing family. We were no longer just looking for a home that was perfect for both of us, but instead, we had to think about our soon-to-be family of three (or someday even more!).

As if house hunting wasn’t hard enough, the “future family factor” can make the process even more daunting. If you’re expecting, or hope to start a family someday, then you’ll definitely want to keep the factors below in mind when searching for the home of your family’s dreams.

Floor Space

The most obvious and non-negotiable place to start is the size of any prospective home. Will it be able to accommodate you and your partner, along with one or more kids? Ask yourself these questions:

Where are the bedrooms located to one another?

Of, course you want to have enough bedrooms, but that alone isn’t enough. Like someone sketching out the perfect blueprint, you’ll want to consider where the bedrooms are located to one another. It’s preferable to have all the bedrooms on the same floor, so they can easily get to their child’s room at night.

Is there more than one bathroom?

Surprising nobody, people will walk away from incredible arrangements if this single factor is off – and it’s no wonder why. Whether this is your forever home or not, multiple family members getting ready for work and school in one tiny bathroom won’t cut it long-term.

Are stairs going to be a factor for you? (Probably.)

Parents who are city dwellers know how difficult it can be if you live on the third floor of a walk-up building. Even after pregnancy, bringing a stroller, a baby and groceries up and down three flights of stairs is quite the trek! Especially if you’re at the beginning of your family adventure, stairs may be a major factor to consider.

Is there an open floor plan?

These days, open floor plans are the most desirable, as parents can keep an eye on their kids playing while making dinner. Make sure whatever layout you choose is one that works well for you and your kid’s safety.

Where are you gonna store extra stuff?

Kids come with a lot of stuff. Strollers, clothing, toys, sports equipment … is there storage space for all of these things in your potential home? Make sure you have a concrete plan to contain the clutter!

Safety Concerns

Even if there weren’t any kids to consider, safety is a priority when house hunting. Add kids to the mix and you become even that much more aware of potential safety hazards that lurk in a potential property.

Is this home near a busy street?

A busy street can be a potential deterrent for a number of factors. First, it may be pretty noisy which isn’t ideal for sleeping babies, trust us. But (somehow) even more importantly, you don’t want your kids playing in a yard that’s on a street with lots of traffic. Here’s a protip: Google Maps highlights streets by their traffic. The darker the color, the more that’s “happening” there. A double-edged sword, to be sure!

What about a fence?

A fence in the backyard or front yard may be a priority for some expanding families, as it allows kids to roam the patio without wandering off too far. If there isn’t a fence (and you want one), budget in the cost of adding one when checking out potential properties.

Can kids play in the neighborhood?

When house hunting, you’ll want to get a feel for the neighborhood. If kids are out riding their bikes and playing in the streets, it may be a kid-friendly spot where your future kiddos can hang with their neighbors. If you want to get a feel for the crime rate, there are definitely handy websites that show you the police blotter for any given area. Your notes shouldn’t begin and end at the front door!

How far are you from your personal doctor or an urgent care/hospital location?

You know that scene in movies where a nervous husband carts his “in-labor-and-about-to-burst” wife into the car before zooming through traffic? Well, planning out where the hospital is not a one-and-done trick. While we hope you won’t be using this route often, make sure where your health insurance is accepted and where you live aren’t majorly out of sync. Speaking of this tip …

Location

Location, location, location. It’s always the number one factor when buying a home of any kind. But throw a kid or two into the mix and where you live is more important than the view.

What’s the school district like?

We’ve chatted all about the importance of house hunting with a school district in mind on the HireAHelper blog before, and we maintain this shouldn’t be overlooked. Do your research, look into the numbers, and make sure you’re in a school district where your children can thrive!

5 Sweet Garage Upgrades That Up Your Home’s Value

Garage additions and upgrades like the five in this list can produce an estimated 65 percent return-on-investment.

How long does it take to get to school?

When my husband was a kid, he had to take a 30-minute bus ride to the other side of town for school every single day. If you don’t think about this before buying, trust us, you will afterward. Can your child walk to school? Can you drop them off on the way to work? Is the bus ride manageable? Even if your kid is far from their first words, this is a crucial variable to think about when searching for your perfect home.

Are there other families in your neighborhood?

When narrowing down locations, it may be beneficial to take a stroll through the neighborhood on a weekend afternoon. Are there young families at the park? Are the kids a lot older? Is the demographic mostly older people without families? Do some research online (like with this app) and get a feel for the demographics of the neighborhood to see if your future family will fit right in. It helps to have a helping hand and a night out once and awhile!

Where’s the closest park/library/swimming pool?

When you’re a parent, you want to keep your kids entertained to prevent anyone from saying the b-word (no, “bored”). Having parks, libraries, swimming pools and other fun activities nearby is always a good idea. Nobody wants to have to make a field trip out of every excursion.


Starting a family. Buying a home. These are big milestones for anyone! But combining these two life events? You’ve got the recipe for a lot of important decision-making. Our advice is to be thoughtful, consider every angle, and think about your life 5, 10, or even 25 years from now. That way, you’ll be certain you’re making the best choice for you and your future family no matter what it looks like.

How I Managed to Move While I Was 6 Months Pregnant

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Yes, it’s true: I was living with my husband in a one-bedroom walk up when my pregnancy test came back positive. We were both thrilled, but any excitement I felt about the baby’s arrival was dimmed by the depressing prospect of bringing a newborn home to such a small apartment. Despite the inevitable trouble that comes with moving while pregnant, I ultimately preferred those issues over sharing our already cramped space with a screaming baby.

And that’s how I wound up moving while six months pregnant.

The bad news is that pregnancy complicates an already exhausting process. The good news is that I survived—and you can too. Below is how I managed to move into my new place in an organized fashion.

Plan to Work During Your Second Trimester

Moving While Pregnant Tip - Plan on Working

The famous real estate mantra is location, location, location, but a positive moving experience (especially while pregnant) also depends on timing.

That’s why you should capitalize on your second trimester.

Most women feel a surge of new energy after the initial morning sickness dissipates. Even if you can’t move into the new house yet, use that valuable energy in productive ways—for example, box up items you won’t need until after the move (like books or holiday decor), research paint options, or just use that time to reserve the moving truck.

Always Prepare for How You Will Feel Later, Not Just Now

Your body and your overall mental state change rapidly during pregnancy. What you feel comfortable with one day, you may dread just a few days later. Welcome to the moving while pregnant rollercoaster.

Early in the packing process, I filled probably a dozen cardboard boxes with books. Even at the time that I packed these boxes, they seemed heavy, but I was largely unconcerned. Weeks later, I was experiencing major back pain—and after having others move the boxes into the house, I couldn’t even manage to push them along the floor to where I wanted them. I had to leave the books scattered in inconvenient locations for days. Anticipate your body’s changes better than I did!

Care for Your Body, Because Someone Depends on It

Moving While Pregnant - Plan for Rest

Your sleep, diet and other health choices impact not just you, but your child too. Even if you feel you are coping well with the strain of moving while pregnant, don’t neglect your physical well-being.

Set an alarm to eat (seriously)

There were days when we spent hours packing or painting or somehow preparing for the move without any consideration for food. With my already decreased appetite, I sometimes forgot about entire meals. But not eating will only make you feel sicker. Before you start a long project, designate a specific time to stop and eat, then mark it with an alarm on your phone.

Prioritize sleep

That includes everything from taking frequent naps to making sure that you have a bed situation sorted for the first few nights in the house. We didn’t leave enough time to assemble our Ikea bed on move-in day, so we wound up on the floor in the living room—not ideal for a pregnant woman!

You CAN Help Moving While Pregnant—Just Not at Your Own Expense

Remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to friends and family even if you’re already enlisting a moving company (which I recommend, because honestly.) On moving day, more is always merrier.

Don’t be ashamed to ask for help wherever possible

Some may welcome the excuse (or rather, extremely valid reason) to kick back and watch other people work, but if you’re anything like me, you might actually struggle not to jump in and contribute when you see your friends sweating and straining.

Don't be afraid to ask for help when moving while pregnant

Find alternative ways to contribute

I guarantee no one will think you are lazy for not moving boxes—there is plenty to do that doesn’t involve heavy lifting. You can do a deep clean of each room, direct other people about where to put boxes, run out to grab food for everyone helping, etc.

Whatever you do, if you’re moving while pregnant, you will likely grow tired quickly like I did, so remember to take frequent breaks.

Overall, the key to survival when moving while pregnant is to embrace the positive aspects of the situation rather than dwelling on the complications. When you’re at your most stressed, just remember that the final outcome will be a home for your baby, where you can create sweet new memories as a family.


The four most important things in Kelsey Down’s life are her coffee, her cat, her dog and her kid. As a first-time homeowner and a working mom, Kelsey loves to tackle topics like home improvement, family life and wellness while finding balance in a chaotic life. She has been published on sites like TODAY.com, Mommyish & KSL. Follow her on Twitter @kladown23.

8 GENIUS Halloween Costumes That We’ll Teach You To Make From Leftover Boxes

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Halloween is just around the corner (18 days to be exact…) and if you just moved in or still have a few moving boxes to unpack, this post is for you! Instead of throwing away those last few boxes, we want to challenge you to up-cycle them into the most amazing Halloween costume that your new, impressionable neighborhood has ever seen!

Yep, forget spending big bucks online or at a costume shop. With a little creativity and some leftover boxes, we are confident you can fashion one of these looks. Check out the tutorials below each image! (Except for Beyonce. There’s only one Beyonce.)

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How Do I Find (and Keep) a Great Babysitter in My New Town?

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People who move to a new location often immediately find themselves with this super under-appreciated problem:

“Hold on…where am I supposed to find a babysitter around here?”

Considering realtor calls, landlord visits, emergency hardware trips and much, much more, there is no doubt this usually falls under-the-radar until maybe even after you’re already moved in. And if you’ve moved away from friends and family who used to keep an eye on things, good luck.

This is why learning about all the different babysitting options goes hand-in-hand with moving. What kinds of sitters are out there? Where and how can I get them? And is there anything special I should know about?

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