There are a ton of packing list available on Pinterest. If you’ve ever looked, you know! A plethora of options to choose from! But I always found I was adding items to our list that I never found on others. So I decided to start from scratch. Will these list work for everyone? Nope. But I’m hopeful that if you’re a family with young children, it’ll be a good starting point!
These two list are specific to a Beach Vacation. They are also specific to families with young children. The first list is for the Big Kids – it includes all of the items that would typically be packed by the parental units! It’s broken down into 5 categories (Electronics + Docs, Beach, Clothing Items, Toiletries/Beauty, and Little Travelers).
The second list is for the Little Kids! And this is where it gets exciting.. because I’ve just not seen something like this readily available! What is better than promoting a little independence with packing? This list will help give your kids a basic guideline (with visuals) on what to put in their suitcase. Sure, Mom can pre-set some items out so that they are only grabbing from a specific pile.. but allowing them to do this promotes independence and personal growth. Think life skills here, people!
For Merritt specifically, I’ll have him write his own name at the top.. and then we’ll check through the items together. He is not at a level of independence where he could do this alone.. but by starting this process now, we are working towards that goal. And maybe by the third or fourth go, he’s able to pack some items without my help. For our daughter (who is only 3), I will lay out all of her items and give her choices. She loves feeling in control. So by doing this, I am allowing her to have some of that control over what is being packed and what isn’t! She is also working to write her name.. so we’ll use this opportunity to practice that skill also!
We tend to just take care of these things as parents, right? It’s just easier. Kids can be slow. Merritt can be especially slow. Whether its getting dressed, putting on his shoes, or zipping his jacket, he’s been known to do it at a snails pace. And when you’re trying to get out the door for school, sometimes it’s easier just to do it for them! But before you know it, you’ve set that precedent.. and they no longer show the urge to do it on their own!
I encourage you to let them handle these items on their own.. even if it takes a little longer. Because with daily opportunities to practice, they’ll gradually move through these routines quicker and quicker! And we’re not perfect here.. I definitely need to take a dose of my own medicine!
Packing wont be quite as second nature. After all, we aren’t doing that as often as we’re tying our shoes or zipping our jacket. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. So try printing these list out.. and have a little fun in the packing process!
travelingonthespectrum.com 