A moving process involving kids is challenging enough, let alone figuring out the transfer process of bringing all of their favorite playroom items. This guide helps you discover how to pack toys to move in the most stress-free way.
Kids of all ages play with numerous different toys daily. However, the parents’ or guardians’ responsibility is to organize and pack when moving to a new home. This process can be trickier than one might think.
Packing toys in large boxes might sound simple. But many people forget this specific task’s sorting, cleaning, and disassembling steps. So, let’s explore the best methods for a seamless move, even if it requires packing a bunch of playthings.
Get Rid of Toys You No Longer Want
Before discovering how to pack toys for moving, you must determine which ones you want to throw away. This is to make more space for those you want to keep and for your child to use and enjoy playing the most.
Broken toys you might have kept around must go in the trash. However, you can donate or sell those in good condition, but your child doesn’t want to play with anymore to other people who would appreciate owning them.
By removing toys you no longer want or need, you can also save yourself from figuring out how to pack them during the moving process. This purging step also leads to less money spent on toy moving supplies.
Order Suitable Moving Supplies
When packing toys, the main idea that pops into most people’s heads is putting them in large cardboard boxes. While boxes are regularly a part of every packing checklist for moving, they are not the only supplies you need. Gather the following items for easier toy packing and transporting:
- Packing tape
- Markers
- Labels
- Packing paper
- Bubble cushion rolls
Deal With The Large Toys First
Some toys are less complicated to pack than others because they don’t require disassembling. However, large ones like tents, rocking chairs, tow trucks, and dollhouses must be taken apart for easier transport during the move.
In addition, it is always a good idea to pack the parts of large toys together. This is to avoid losing a piece that will prevent you from offering your child to play with them again in the new home.
Wooden toys are the most fragile and should be handled carefully when moving. However, they can last a long time if packed correctly by being pulled apart, resulting in fewer scratches. Compared to plastic toys, wooden toys are better for your child’s health and safety.
Divide The Toys into Categories
It’s easy to throw all toys in a large box, thinking they will stay put during moving. But this can be a huge mistake, especially when the time for unpacking comes. You won’t know which toys you put in which box, and sorting through them may take a long time.
To avoid this mess, you can divide the toys into categories. This way, it will be easier to organize them pile by pile, knowing each box contains similar items. Here is how you can strategically separate the toys without causing confusion or frustration, allowing yourself to focus on decorating your new home:
- Books
- Blocks
- Action Figures
- Puzzles
- Stuffed Animals
- Educational Toys
- Flashcards
- Wooden Toys
- Dolls and Dollhouse Parts
- Tents and Tunnels
- Musical Toys
- Art Supplies
Clean Every Toy Thoroughly
Toys get dirty very easily when children play with them constantly, put them on the floor, or take them outside. For this reason, you should find the time to clean all the toys well before packing them to ensure they enter your new home fresh and ready for immediate use.
Regular toy sanitization is crucial for your child’s health and well-being. But it is more important during moving to prevent any dusty particles from affecting your little ones. You don’t need to purchase expensive cleaning products to do this.
Instead, you can use a homemade cleaning solution with warm water and soap. Soak the toys and let them air dry altogether to prevent dirt from sticking to them before putting them in moving boxes.
Pack Toys for Moving in Boxes
You have sorted out and cleaned your kids’ favorite toys, which means it’s time to start packing them before the big day comes. Assuming you have all the necessary moving supplies on hand, start by placing a protective, cushioned layer at the bottom of the moving boxes.
Put the toys in boxes organized by category and secure them using an adhesive, durable tape to prevent breakage or more serious damage. Then, label each box with markers to make finding them easier during unpacking.
Extra Pointers to Make Packing Toys Easier During Moving
Now that you know how to pack toys for moving, it’s time to shift your focus to other specific things you must consider during this process. Not all toys can be packed securely in the same way, and some may require more attention and precision.
Use the following toy packing tips for an upcoming move to save yourself enough time and energy you might need to use for more significant things:
- Unpack the Toys First: Your kids are probably used to playing with their favorite toys every day. So, even though they might have been packed last, these should be the first things you unpack when you move in.
- A Trick That Holds Puzzle Pieces Together: Puzzles are tricky to pack because you want to keep every piece, and they quickly get lost. For this reason, you can tape them down and transfer them securely into the new home.
Have Access to Acid-Free Packing Paper: Packing toys like action figures in bubble wrap may damage their quality. Instead, you can wrap them in acid-free paper, which is more durable and retains the figurines’ condition better.
