Moving to a new city is exciting, but let’s be real: It can also be pretty overwhelming. If you’ve just arrived in Beijing and aren’t quite sure where to start, we’ve got something special for you.

We’re giving away free tickets to our readers for INN’s Beijing Arrival Survival, which is designed to help fresh faces in Beijing settle in smoothly. Whether you’re struggling with the subway system, hunting for affordable apartments or just want to meet other newbies, this event is for you.

Want a free ticket? Here’s how to get one:
Just like this post and comment below with one thing you’ve found tricky since moving to Beijing. Maybe it’s ordering food, dealing with visa paperwork or just missing home. We’ll randomly pick six winners – no complicated rules, just a bit of luck!

Winners will be announced on Wed, Aug 13, so don’t wait! Even if you don’t snag a free ticket, we’d still love to see you there. Let’s make Beijing feel a little more like home.

Images: INN, Freepik

Welcome to Beijing, Newbie! You’re going to love your new life in this wonderful city. You’re already reading jingkids, so you’re off to a good start. It’s time to start building your own social network and meet some amazing people who also call this city home. Beijing’s International Newcomer’s Network (INN) is a great place to start. It’s where you can get to know some local businesses and meet people who’ve dedicated their free time to welcoming newbies, just like yourselves, to Beijing.

INN is a non-registered, non-profit, non-political, non-governmental, non-denominational organization established in 1994 by a group of expatriates living in Beijing, and contrary to its name, it’s not just for newcomers! INN is a resource for newcomers, returnees and long-term residents of all nationalities to obtain information about living in Beijing. It offers a support network for those facing the challenges of getting settled in Beijing and provides an opportunity to meet new friends and connect with those who have similar interests. It also supports approved charity organizations, approved social groups, and non-profit sports clubs and groups.

Now, let’s meet the two ladies leading INN.

Hi, everyone! I’m Rebecca Carter. I am a mum of two boys (and two corgis) who has lived in Beijing since October 2023. I found INN in November 2023 as two of its final three members left Beijing – Mary was desperate for help. I was new in the city, had no job, and knew no one, so I offered to volunteer and have been since. I love volunteering for INN as it has helped me connect with so many fantastic people.

Hello! I am Mary Peng and I am from the USA. I moved to Shanghai in 1991 and then to Beijing in 1992. I joined INN in 2004 as a volunteer when I was considering leaving the corporate world and wanted to meet more people in the community. In 2005, I founded the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) and am the CEO. INN helped me make the transition to a new life as an entrepreneur with many friends who were loving and supportive. INN has given me a tremendous sense of purpose and has deeply enriched my life.

What kind of events or services does INN offer to newcomers in Beijing?

INN holds many monthly social gatherings, and we invite all members of the community to come along and join us.

Which of these look fun to you? Get in touch with us, we want to meet you!

• Social Gatherings
• Lunch/Bunch
• Trekkies & Market Visits
• Beer Night
• Quiz Night
• Coffee Mornings (1-2 times every month)

INN also hosts five BIG events each year:

• Beijing Love Your Pet Day – late March
• Beijing Earth Day – mid to late April
• INN Arrival Survival (welcomes newcomers and returnees and this year will be on Aug 16, 2025)
• INN Halloween Fun Party – end of October
• INN Christmas Party – mid-December

How large is your community, and what kinds of expats typically join?

We have a loose network of over 1,000 INN members who subscribe to our WeChat groups and social media. People from all walks of life, backgrounds and nationalities join INN. Many of the expats are working full time and have spouses or significant others and kids. Ages range from newborn babies to 60+ years. Attendees are usually women, though we really hope more men will join us as well. Many single individuals also join INN events. As expats, it is so important to have Chinese friends. INN provides opportunities for these global friendships.

How can new arrivals get involved with your network?

Contact INN on WeChat and join our groups (WeChat ID: innbeijing1994). We have specific groups for our events: Newbies, Shunyi, Haidian etc. Join and come to an INN meet-up or big event!

In your opinion, as seasoned INN volunteers…

What are the biggest challenges expats face when moving to Beijing, and how does INN help?

Rebecca:

As I moved to Beijing recently, my biggest challenge was meeting people and getting a community, especially for my son. I also think [it’s a challenge] knowing where to buy things/access services, such as which hairdressers, drinking water, western food/good quality meat or bread, or desserts, clothes, and the list goes on. I’ve been here 21 months, and I’m still finding things.

For newcomers who are new to China, it’s probably that a lot of apps are only in Chinese, so getting advice and tips from other expats is very helpful.

Mary:

The initial honeymoon period for new expats is usually three to six months. Everything is great and interesting and exciting. But once you get settled and the kids are in school and your spouse is at work, you can find yourself alone and without a lot of friends. This is when life becomes more challenging as you have to figure out the day-to-day aspects of living in China (e.g. buying electricity, paying water and gas bills, dealing with the bank, mailing packages, shopping online with mainly Chinese apps etc.) and you are often doing this on your own. This is also the time when culture shock sets in, and you may not understand why things are happening and how to work out these challenges. INN is filled with seasoned expats and newbies who can share knowledge and advice and experiences to meet these challenges.

What advice would you give to someone who just arrived in Beijing to adjust to life here?

Rebecca:

1) Accept that TIC (This is China) is an acceptable response
2) Learn basic Chinese
3) Practice using the Chinese apps and learn which buttons you need to press to fulfil your basic needs. You don’t need to be able to read; you just need to know that the button on the bottom left is “buy”
4) Join INN events, obviously

Mary:

Just show up! Come to the INN events that fit your schedule. The antidote to loneliness and culture shock (and to saying goodbye to your friends as they leave every year) is to get involved and to just show up at events! INN welcomes everyone, and most of our events are no-cost or very low-cost (e.g. just buy your own food and drink at Coffee Mornings and other events).

Are there any common cultural misunderstandings expats should be aware of?

Many! For example, when Chinese people make a mistake or find themselves in an embarrassing situation, the default response is to laugh. But foreigners may take this as rude to laugh in a difficult situation. And it is very common to have Chinese friends or colleagues make comments about physical appearance or body weight. No disrespect is meant by this, as it is often someone just engaging in small talk.

What’s the most rewarding part of being in INN?

Rebecca:

All the friends I’ve made. I met Mary and we’ve become best friends. She even came to my son’s birth and stayed with me in the hospital overnight to help.

Mary:

The incredible group of good friends from around the world. I met Rebecca in October 2023, when our last two other INN volunteers were leaving China. I was the only INN volunteer left. Rebecca was a godsend. She has become my best friend and has also given me the gift of an extended family with her boys and husband, Dan. INN friendships have lasted decades, and the pleasure of keeping in touch with all the friends I have made, following their lives and seeing them again when we find ourselves in the same country, is one of the greatest joys in life.

Do you have a favorite success story of someone your organization has helped?

Rebecca:

A recent one where a mum was complaining about how difficult it was to use Didi taxi, and we asked her why she didn’t just use the English version. Her face was an absolute picture. She’d been struggling for months and would have been for longer. We helped her set it up, and she was so grateful.

Mary :

Yes! INN members are often career guys and gals who came to China as trailing spouses. We had a doctor from Europe who was told she could not work here due to not having the local medical licenses. Through our network of INN friends at the international hospitals, she was able to find a wonderful hospital to sponsor her to work legally in Beijing, and she was hired locally! She was so happy to be able to practice medicine in Beijing.

The next INN event will be at Panorama on Aug 5 at 11am. Get in touch via WeChat to join. Are you INN?

INN has also set a date for their upcoming “Arrival Survival”!  This is a great place to meet new people and make new friends. Connect with more than 30 organizations, including hospitals, dentists, spas, hair care,  beauty salons, jewelry designers, travel agents, language schools, relocation experts, animal hospitals, organic farms, yoga studios, bakeries and more!

Entry Fee:
Early Bird (before Aug 8): RMB 25/person
After Aug 8: RMB 50/person
Kids under 12 are FREE!

RSVP to INN on WeChat by Aug 8: Innbeijing1994

Date: Sat, Aug 16, 2025
Time: 2pm-5pm
Location: Beijing Guoyihui TCM Center
Tel. for directions: 13488870059

Find it:
Beijing Guoyihui TCM Center
16 Liangma He Nanlu, Chaoyang District
北京国医汇中医
朝阳区亮马河南路16号

Images: Rebecca Carter

This is a concise timeline of Rebecca and Dan Carter’s time in China.

Rebecca Humphries:                   Shenzhen: 2014-2019
Dan Carter:                                  Shenzhen: 2016-2019
Rebecca & Dan Carter:                Shanghai: 2019-2021
Rebecca & Dan Carter:                UK: 2021-2023
Rebecca & Dan Carter + Wulfric: Beijing: 2023-present

Welcome to your new life in Beijing, you’re in for an adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although it can be a bit daunting to uproot your life and move to a new city where you may or may not even speak the language, it’s also a whole of lot of fun that will give you great stories to tell for the rest of your life and your kids a childhood like no other.

The first step, get your hands on the right resources. You’re already reading Jingkids so that’s a great start. Be sure to follow us on WeChat for daily posts about the Beijing community and fun things to do with the family.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, you will soon. WeChat is LIFE. It’ll be your source for everything while you’re in China and to get in on the latest community chatter, you need to be in the right WeChat groups. 

Jingkids runs a whole lot of essential lifestyle groups for all your family needs. From travel, dining, parenting, and events to just silly fun humor. If there’s something you’re interested in, we’ve probably got it. 

To join any of our WeChat group, add TBJButler on WeChat and tell him which ones you’d like to be added to.

Jingkids has been an essential part of the expat family community since 2006. We’ve helped countless families make Beijing their home and turned little everyday moments into everlasting memories.

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

Recently, at my daughter’s school event one mom looked lost, scared, and a bit out of place. She stood off to the corner and didn’t approach anyone, so, sensing her hesitance, I went over to introduce myself. I found out that she was new to China, didn’t speak the language, and, being a first-time mom as well, was also navigating this whole international school thing on her own for the first time.

She and I immediately hit it off and arranged a few fun playdates for our kids. It was during one of those playdates when she told me how grateful she was that I took the initiative to approach her and welcome her to the school community. It wasn’t until that moment that I remembered that, unlike many of us, there are still plenty of newbies who just moved here. Everything is new for them and it can be a scary experience navigating their new lives while keeping their cool and calm in front of their kids.

Everything that we take for granted to make my daily life easier was new to her. Over the course of our first week of hanging out I showed her how to use apps like Didi, Meituan, Roundabout’s mini program, and I introduced her to buy-sell groups and wine importers.

For those with new friends and neighbors who are new to life in Beijing, be sure to ask them to download WeChat and to follow jingkids on WeChat. Help them help themselves make life in Beijing fun and enjoy all the convenience that life in Beijing offers.

Images: Pexels

The life of an expat trailing spouse is amazing and frustrating at the same time. It can take you to the most amazing places around the world, where you’ll get to see things and meet people that others back home have only seen on TV. But at times it can also be frustrating enough to make you want to rip out your hair. Sometimes the problem is not understanding the local language, other times it could be the sheer loneliness of not knowing anyone. But whether it’s the good times or bad, you can’t deny that expat life is full of adventures.

We at jingkids had the privilege of working with Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde during her time in Beijing. The Uganda native has lived all over the world, and we’re so excited to share that she and her longtime friend Julie Epenu-Robert have put their adventures into a book.

From Journeys to Words: Wobbly Tales of Expat Lives tells the tales of these expat wives that many of us can relate to, with a sense of humor that resonates through Pearl and Julie’s unique way with words.

Meet the authors

Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde:
I was born in Uganda, in a large family of ten. In my teen years and early 20s, I dabbled in modeling before I met my husband and we started our wandering expat existence. Together, we have two daughters. I have a degree in international relations and I’m involved in several social projects.

Julie Epenu-Robert:
I was born and raised in Uganda until 2004 when my then-boyfriend (now husband) whisked me into a nomadic existence abroad. Ever since, I have called seven countries “Home.” I am currently an islander living in the Comoro Islands with my husband and our two children. I have an MBA and I own and run a handmade business.

How did you two meet and where did the idea for the book come from?

Pearl:
When I set off on the trailing path, I often got a barrage of questions from friends and family about the places we were relocating to – messages that I couldn’t individually answer because of

1. the sheer magnitude of things I have to absorb when we move to a new place, and
2. I have way too many friends and family! (I’m not going to WhatsApp over 200 people back and forth…)

So, I reasoned, what better way to avoid the thousands of messages and emails about every one of my travel/ relocation experiences, than to put it all in a book that everyone can read and enjoy. And further still, why not include tales from others who have had similar experiences to mine. Variety is the spice condiment of life, right? So, in came my dear friend Julie, whose expat journey is very identical to mine, albeit in different locations.

Julie:
Pearl and I met in Kampala about 22 years ago when we both joined Uganda’s first modeling agency – Ziper Models. A year or so after we met, we both coincidentally met our future husbands, and – again, coincidentally – we both started this expat journey at exactly the same time. Pearl was moving to Zambia with her man and I was moving to Zimbabwe with mine.

Is there one chapter that’s your absolute favorite?

Pearl:
All chapters have taken me back to some fond memories (as well as some memories I’d rather forget) so it’s difficult to choose one. However, I loved remembering the people we met along the way (Chapter 6).

Julie:
Every chapter in the book is special, but the one that really stands out for me is the sixth chapter, which talks about the friendships we’ve created along this journey and how they have positively impacted us.

What’s the most unbelievable expat life experience that you’d like to share with our readers?

Pearl:
There’s not one particular experience for me that stands out. All the collective cultural experiences we’ve experienced have been incredibly rewarding, from trying to grasp the esoteric Chinese language and navigating the incredibly rich Chinese culture, to trying to understand how the currency black market works in Beirut, Lebanon. All these life experiences have left me feeling incredibly lucky to be living this nomadic expat life.

Julie:
That would be Zimbabwe, the country that turned us into instant trillionaires! We were welcomed by hyper-inflation and an economy surviving by a thread that saw us carry bags, suitcases, and wheelbarrows of money – just enough to buy a few basic groceries like bread, sugar, and milk (if there was any available).

What are the best and worst things about being an expat?

Pearl:
The best thing is the people we meet. The worst is the complete disorientation and feeling of not belonging anywhere – after a while, we don’t know where “Home” is. That’s been an unyielding challenge for me. I have learned to “occupy” my days with small writing and consultancy projects, as well as taking short courses – on top of being a full-time mum.

The whole expat experience is wonderful, sometimes frustrating and stressful, but also exciting!

Julie:
While I appreciate the opportunity to travel, discover and immerse myself in new cultures and meet interesting people across the globe, not having a stable career path can be a challenge, especially as an expat spouse.
Quitting a promising career in my hometown to follow love changed my professional trajectory even though it was all worth it because we have grown as a family in more ways than you can imagine.

I eventually learned to embrace these constant changes with several “projects” to fill my days. Apart from being a mum, I have furthered my studies, done volunteer work, and I have started a small handmade business called AFRODASH as well as an organic skincare range called MELLOWSKIN.

Is there a country that you wish you could return to and live in all over again?

Pearl:
China (and no, I’m not saying this because this is a Chinese magazine). When we moved to China, the first few months were difficult because I was completely lost in translation (Mandarin is like brain surgery – gosh). After a year or so of living in Beijing, my Mandarin became pretty “ok” and I began to really enjoy this giant [metropolis]. Here, I met incredible people, saw mind-blowing development and tech advancement, traveled to some of the most beautiful cities and villages in the world, and tasted some of the best dishes.
I’d also happily return and live in China JUST for Taobao (if you know, you know – haha)!

Julie:
I have never really had the urge to return to any of the countries we have lived in. I guess this nomadic lifestyle teaches you to want to discover new places every time.

Obviously, all the countries we’ve lived in have their special qualities, but if I really had to choose, it would be Madagascar. I am fond of Madagascar not only for its warm and friendly people, its array of biodiversity, and natural beauty, but [also]for their skilled craftsmanship. In fact, it was over there that I developed a passion for handmade art.

It’s the place where I was the most involved with community service and friends, and we were able to travel numerous times within the island for local tourism and discovered amazing places.

Why should people be excited for your book?

Pearl & Julie:
The book is a good read for people who are struggling to find their place after relocating to an unknown country. It reveals the dynamics of life as an expat and showcases our personal experiences as expat spouses as well as our children in a third-world culture. It unveils our struggles, successes and failures while we navigate our way in strange countries and cultures, create new relationships, and the work it takes to keep a family together despite the constant changes. We see our struggles through humor and also throw in some inspirational outlooks on expat life that many could relate to.

To get your hands on a copy of the book, scan the QR code below to buy it on Amazon.

Images: Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde, Pexels

On Jun 23, Sophie – a teacher from New Zealand – suffered a severe heart attack and was in a coma for six days. By Jul 7, she desperately needed heart surgery but was faced with complications given her rare AB- blood type. Sophie’s family quickly moved mountains and oceans to get a donor for her, and fortunately, she was able to receive enough blood for all three of her operations.

The blood type that Sophie has is also known as “panda blood” and is extremely rare in China, with roughly 0.1 percent of Asia’s population having this blood type. In fact, of the eight different blood types in the world, positives are most common, while negatives are rarer.

Luckily, having AB- blood doesn’t mean you only receive blood from AB- donors, and there are various other types that are compatible. Nevertheless, Sophie’s family’s search took them well outside their friends in Beijing, and they looked as far as Heilongjiang Province and Xizang Province just to find someone bearing either the AB-, A-, B-, or O- blood type.

“I cried when I saw how many people read and shared,” Sophie says.

The ordeal certainly captured the sheer support and love within the capital’s expat community. Simply put, Beijing’s expat community is like a big family that you can always count on to have your back. Whether it be restaurant recommendations, travel tips, or a life-threatening illness, there’s no shortage of help, no matter how big or small the situation is.

Although Beijing is a foreign country for Sophie and her family, they were able to find solace and aid in its expat community. Frankly, moving to Beijing and being away from loved ones is, in no uncertain terms, an arduous task, however, there are always people who will be more than happy to help you thrive while you are here. All the anxiety of settling in a new place disappears – more or less – and your family back home can rest easy knowing that you’re in the loving hands of an international community that cares.

We’re glad that Sophie is feeling better and is on her way to a swift recovery. And for those of you that are planning on moving to Beijing, know that you are welcome, and the expat community can’t wait to welcome you into the family.

KEEP READING: Fun Blood Drive for the Whole Family! Yes, There is Such a Thing

Images: Unsplash, XueFei Liu, MyOASIS 北京明德医院

Before we moved to Beijing, I set writing goals for myself. One of those goals was to write at least one article for beijngkids, now Jingkids International.

See, in the months and years leading up to the move, my husband’s company had given us copies of the magazine for research. Most of my thick relocation binder consisted of pages I’d torn out of their Home and Relocation Guide or School Choice Guide. Reading the issues on healthy eating and new trends in arts education prepared me for a much fuller, more vibrant family life in Beijing than any tourism website ever could’ve provided.

I saw alternatives to dairy yogurt, important for a family with various dietary needs. I found photos of green spaces surrounded by old murals or families playing sports, a sharp contrast to the more familiar skyscrapers often seen in travel brochures. The pages of the magazine and website reflected the kind of exciting life we wanted for our kids, where they would be challenged to learn a new language and find their way through another culture’s customs. We saw families from all over the world, living and working and learning and playing in the city we would soon call our own.

I got to know the different schools by feverishly studying the School Choice Guide, eliminating some schools by location, and marking others for future tours. When any question arose on the school process, my first stop was the Jingkids archives.

And when I returned to Beijing in July 2020 after being stranded, I had a story brewing about preparing for quarantine with kids. I looked up Managing Editor Mina Yan’s WeChat, pitched it to her, and within three weeks had a job offer as Deputy Managing Editor. (There were many steps in between, of course, but it felt like a whirlwind to me.)

I’m not sure I can properly describe the hole this job filled in my life, or how it caused my entire self to expand. I’d been working from home for over a decade, with stops and starts as my kids came into the picture and my husband’s job demanded more of his energy: The “Mom Gap,” I’ve heard it called. And here came a job that wasn’t scared of how I’d pieced together a freelance life, but embraced it, wanted it.

And wanted me to write about it.

Me and Mina Yan, Managing Editor and faithful believer in me.

From that moment on, every part of my life in Beijing became a mystery to solve. I thought back to how much I’d depended on Jingkids to steer me in the right direction when it came to events and schools. What aspects of daily life did people like me need help navigating? How could I turn my obsession with WeChat groups into useful, engaging stories that Beijing families would want to read and share? What do I wish I had known before I moved here and after? What aspects of parenting are magnified when you’re an expat, specifically here? Everything around me became a possible article.

And you, dear readers, joined me on this journey. Whether you saw me struggle through school WeChat groups, navigating a rare allergy in a different country, making a school choice checklist, finding new ways to connect with the school community over livestream, searching for the best Beijing birthday party, investigating whether to leave China this summer or celebrating kids who know no gender binaries – all of this has been for you.

My kids even got to be on our March/April 2021 cover and inside spread!

Most writers dread the comments section, and I’ve had my share of those days. But what made any day worth it was the private messages of support, or thanks for tackling a weird topic, or those of you who considered a subject differently because of something I wrote. Even, and especially, everyone who challenged me in some way or pointed out something I missed; everything I write is better thanks to you.

My family’s time in Beijing feels much too short. I still have so many stories and lessons and questions from our time here, and I hope this isn’t goodbye forever. Our family will repatriate this July, which means leaving my job in the capable hands of our new Deputy Managing Editor Vivienne Tseng-Rush. It will be hard to leave but easier knowing how our circle of friends and readers has grown during our time in Beijing.

Of course, there are so many things I didn’t get to do, yet I treasured every single moment here, even if it’s getting kicked off the grass at a park – because I got to share it with you.

KEEP READING: Super Size Me: Moving Abroad Gave Me Body Issues

Images: Uni You, the Grand Mercure Hotel

We’re about to offer our readers a whole slew of updated information on relocating to and from Beijing, so thought we could start with an area of our lives that always causes stress: preparing to pack.

My family is moving soon, and even though we’re in the fortunate position of the company handling our relocation, the idea of packing is still stressful. What to take with us on the plane and what can we wait 4-10 weeks to receive — understanding that Covid-19 is still delaying nearly all shipments? What have the kids outgrown since we’ve moved here? Should I keep my winter clothes on the off chance we ever need them again or just start over?

Here are just a few of my tricks, having now moved cross country twice in my adult life and internationally twice.

 Start Clutter Clearing at least 3 months in advance of the move.

This is actually an emotional process, to review all your belongings and evaluate their usefulness or meaning in your life. It’s much better to do it one area of your space at a time, rather than think you can just do a full haul clearance while you’re also trying to pack. Start with the areas of less emotional attachment, like cables, cords, and electronics. Use the Rule of Five explained below, and just start.

Rule of Five

My sister needs this reminder a lot. Can’t determine how many stuffies to keep? How many spare charging cords, or empty notebooks? Use the rule of five. Only keep five of everything. If you have more than five, and it’s useful, that’s different. Or if it’s your kids’ collection of LEGO bricks and you have seven bins, well, Godspeed if you’re able to cut these down. But for most things in life, you do not need more than five of any one item.

Move the Cleared Items Out as Soon as Possible

Once you decide to get rid of something, get rid of it completely. I will sometimes call Roundabout to make a collection date before I clear things so that I have a deadline. The worst thing that can happen is you remove a toy they barely touched and put it into a closet, only to find your children dug it out one day when they were bored and now are playing with it again. Arggggggh!

Eat Your Way Through Your Pantry

At least three months before the move, you should also start eating your way through your pantry and freezer. Toss anything that’s expired. Remove items you are never going to use or open take a photo and see who wants those spices you just knew you’d start baking with but never touched. Stack pantry items all together so you understand that you actually have three unopened salsas and don’t need to buy anymore but should probably eat these first. Don’t leave this until the last minute or you’ll waste a lot of food.

Keep a “Don’t Care Bin”

Especially when travelling with children, you need a “don’t care” bin. These are Happy Meal toys, party favor crap, plastic shite you bribed them to stay quiet with one day but would rather not actually keep, etc. These are great for airplane and relocation trips when you don’t care if they break, don’t care if they get lost, you and your kids just don’t care.

Remove the Clothes That Don’t Fit

This one obviously assumes you have the money to replace them, but after two years in Beijing, a lot of my clothes shrunk in the wash. I can handle that tight waistline if I’m just standing at an event all day, but not on a regular basis. Be deliberate and ruthless: remove all items from your closet that simply don’t fit you anything. Take a photo and post it in your “buy nothing” sustainable group, then ship it off to the first person who says “yay”. This process includes the shoes that literally pain you to wear.

Gift Some Artwork

I adore all my kids’ artwork, I really do, but do I love it enough to unpack it in a few months? For some of their less sentimental pieces, I have them write a note on the back to give to their friends as a goodbye gift, along with a photo of them together. I always run these decisions by the kids themselves, of course, because I also don’t want them to ask me months later “Hey, where is that snowman I made at art class?”

Don’t Be Andy’s Mom

You know the mom from the first three Toy Story movies? She picks up the wrong bag for donation and sets into motion the entire escapade of saving all our favorite talking toys from the evil mafia at Sunnydale Day Care?

Don’t be Andy’s Mom. Sure, it was a mistake, but she and Andy could have had a reasonable discussion on which toys to keep and which toys to donate and saved everyone a whole lot of trouble and two hours of escapades. Of course, then we wouldn’t have a movie, but….

I know it feels like it would easier to just remove some items while they’re not looking, and I do totally do that sometimes. But when it comes to choosing their LEGO sets or favorite blankets or Funko toys, it’s best to discuss it with each child in advance. Because here’s the thing. I’d lightly discussed donating some toys with them last summer but they weren’t really interested. Then out of the blue, my son woke up one day after learning about children who didn’t have a lot of LEGO bricks and said he wanted to choose some to donate. We jumped on it and removed a whole bin from our home.

Remove all items from their shelves, containers, etc, then sort them in a neutral spot.

I find this very helpful with books especially. Take everything out of their spot and sort them into three piles: donate/trash, keep, and not sure. Keep the “not sure” items out and available, and if you don’t reach for them in the next month, out they go!

Everyone is going through such emotions during a move, don’t exacerbate them by trying to both get rid of items and also pack everything at once. Start as soon as you can, take it nice and slowly, and involve the whole family!

KEEP READING: Summer Camp Previews: Survival Camp and UK University Prep

Images: Canva