Moving with Kids and Pets in Texas (2026)

Moving is stressful for the whole family. Here's how to make moving day easier on children and pets — before, during, and after the move.

Moving is hard enough without worrying about anxious kids and stressed pets underfoot. A little planning keeps everyone calmer and keeps moving day safe. Here is how families across DFW, Austin, and Houston do it. (Want the budget sorted early? Run our moving cost calculator.)

Before the move: prepare the kids

Talk about the move early and honestly, in age-appropriate terms. Children handle change better when they are not surprised by it.

Involve them: let kids pack a special box of their own favorite things, or pick the paint color for their new room.

Keep routines as normal as possible in the lead-up.

If changing schools, visit the new school ahead of time if you can.

Moving day with children

Arrange childcare for the actual move if at all possible. A busy worksite with a heavy truck and movers carrying furniture is not a safe place for small children.

If kids must be present, set up one safe, supervised room away from the action.

Pack a kids' essentials bag: snacks, water, a favorite toy or blanket, tablet and charger, a change of clothes.

Before the move: prepare pets

Update your pet's microchip and ID tags with your new address and phone number.

For long-distance moves, schedule a vet visit and get copies of records.

Keep your pet's routine — feeding, walks — steady as long as possible.

Moving day with pets

The safest plan is to board your pet or leave it with a friend for the day. Open doors, strangers, and commotion are how pets bolt and get lost.

If your pet stays home, confine it to a quiet, closed room with food, water, and a familiar bed, and put a sign on the door so the crew knows not to open it.

Never transport a pet in the moving truck. Pets ride with you, in a carrier or secured.

Letting the pros do the heavy lifting frees you up to focus on the family — see our moving services and the service areas we cover across DFW, Austin, and Houston. For the full prep timeline, lean on our ultimate moving checklist.

After the move: help everyone settle

Set up the kids' rooms and the pets' familiar items (bed, bowls, toys) first so they have a comfort zone right away.

Keep pets on a leash or indoors until they learn the new home and yard.

Re-establish routines quickly; familiarity is what makes a new house feel like home.

We make family moves smoother

One World Van Lines has helped DFW, Austin, and Houston families move since 2013. We work efficiently and respectfully so you can focus on your kids and pets. Licensed and insured (USDOT 2388619, MC 820945). Call (660) 667-7770 or get a free quote online — and if you are Texas-bound, read moving to Houston.