How independent is your preschooler with packing?

[SarahBear]

So you're headed for a two night stay at a hotel that's 3 or 4 hours drive away. It's time to pack your preschooler's clothes, entertainment, and toiletry items. They're packing. How independent are they? How wiling and cooperative are they?

Violet is so much better at this than I would have expected. She amazes me sometimes. I started packing my clothes and my son's clothes and Violet independently decided she would start packing too. I just needed to give her some verbal guidance on how many of each item (I told her once and she remembered the items I forgot to mention) and clarify toy limits. She independently thought of bedtime stories and raincoat. She wanted her toiletries packed but I had to explain why we'd leave them out (using them in the morning). This isn't new for her though. She's been making decisions about toys for car entertainment since before she was 3. It's also been an emerging skill and she's been really independent with it the last couple times. The time before that, I forgot to check her packing and she didn't have what she needed and she really learned from that . Now she really pays attention to the number I tell her and how many she has of each thing. Her things for tomorrow's trip are packed and next to the door and I did absolutely none of the packing and gave her minimal verbal guidance as described above.

 

[Neko]

My daughter has been able to pack what I asked her for a couple of years now. If I told her to get three outfits, underpants, socks and toiletry items, she knows where everything is. But I don't really let her pack, because I know which outfits I want her to wear for each occasion. That's my issue, not hers. lol

 

[Scout]

Mine sounds about like yours, although I go back and check the clothing depending on where we are going. If I tell her to get 3 pair of pants and 3 shirts, she will but they may not match, which is fine for going over to grandma's to spend the night, but not if we're going somewhere I'd like her to match (like previous poster, my issue and not hers) I do have to reign her in on toys, even when we are going to run to Home Depot or the grocery store.

 

[.Mrs.B.]

I've never let mine pack on their own, although my 4 year old can find himself a coordinating outfit in the morning likes to do this.
My husband is awful, he always forgets his pyjamas or swimwear.
My 2 year old will take off her socks and pop these and some other random bits in when I'm packing. When we get there it's funny to see the odd bits and peices she has packed for me.

 

[SarahBear]

I've never let mine pack on their own, although my 4 year old can find himself a coordinating outfit in the morning likes to do this.
My husband is awful, he always forgets his pyjamas or swimwear.
My 2 year old will take off her socks and pop these and some other random bits in when I'm packing. When we get there it's funny to see the odd bits and peices she has packed for me.

You've got to try it sometime. It's so much easier! (assuming the kid is into it)

 

[lindseymw]

Joshua has been able to pack his bags for a while. Our first proper holiday (excluding weekends away), Joshua was 5 so I wrote a list of everything he needed and off he went. I check what he's put in (as pp's said, to make sure it matches/suitable). For weekends away he didn't need a list, he knew what he needed and was quite capable.

Jacob however, he's not bothered. If left to it, he'd pack 3 pairs of pants and toys and be perfectly happy with his choice.

 

[jd83]

Mine are both capable of packing everything they need, with verbal cues from me on what they need to make sure is in the bag. I only really let them pack themselves for overnight at their aunt's house or grandparents house, though. An actual trip I just prefer to pack everything myself, to make sure it's all packed correctly and what I want them to wear on the trip is packed. That's my issue, though, not theirs. They are capable, it's just whether or not I let them depending on where we are going.

 

[Eleanor ace]

My DD1 (3yrs 9months) could probably pack a bag if I told her how many outfits/pairs of underwear/socks etc she needed and gave guidance on weather/activity appropriate planning, but she wouldn't be able to plan it independently. She'd also probably pack all dresses and sneak in as many extra as she could .

 

[MindUtopia]

We let her pack special things like her toys and to choose certain clothes to bring, but I still actually pack her clothes and toiletries. She's about to turn 4. I think she's old enough to choose her toys or books or what colouring things to bring and she has a special bag she packs those in, but forgetting clothes or other essentials would be a major pain, so I still pack all those, sometimes with her input. I wouldn't leave her to pack her own things yet though without supervision. I'm sure she probably could do it better than I expect, but I can't cope with the hassle of forgetting things because I'm a control freak! I think that's fantastic Violet did it most on her own though.

 

[SarahBear]

We let her pack special things like her toys and to choose certain clothes to bring, but I still actually pack her clothes and toiletries. She's about to turn 4. I think she's old enough to choose her toys or books or what colouring things to bring and she has a special bag she packs those in, but forgetting clothes or other essentials would be a major pain, so I still pack all those, sometimes with her input. I wouldn't leave her to pack her own things yet though without supervision. I'm sure she probably could do it better than I expect, but I can't cope with the hassle of forgetting things because I'm a control freak! I think that's fantastic Violet did it most on her own though.

Oh, Violet was still supervised and I check her things... except that one time when I forgot to.

 

[MAMA MOON]

My boy loves packing his suitcase & insisted on his own suitcase & toiletry bag. He makes me write out a list & we go from there. He also insists on his own snack bag, which he guards with his life. When we get to the hotel, he unpacks all his things & places them in drawers & shoves his suitcase in the closet. Then, wants to go fill the ice bucket with ice. He also likes to call room service & order food. He then wants to wander around nook & cranny of the hotel & man the elevator & unlock the room door. He has been doing this since 3 yo & if it's been a while since our last trip, he will say he has the 'travel bug' & won't let it go until the next trip is planned. Little man has wanderlust like his father... Oh & he likes to wear button down shirts when we travel. Idk why...

 

[SarahBear]

Haha, that's awesome Mama Moon. As for the buttons, Violet has been against them altogether since about 2 and a half.

 

[c1403]

I've never asked my daughter to pack but I'd say my eldest would be able to do it. I ask her to put her bits in her bag for nursery (hat, water bottle, toy etc) and if we stay at my parents she packs her toys....as for clothes and pjs etc I guess I'd let her do it but prefer to take the lead on that one.

 

[CaptainMummy]

I don't let mine pack. My eldest (although perfectly capable) would pull everything out looking for a 'perfect' outfit and then shove it all back in her drawers and make a mess, plus I like it to be all organised and roll up outfits etc.

My dd2&3 could both follow instructions if I told them what to do, but its just way easier and less mess if I do it all myself! Plus I know they will be wearing decent clothes!

 

[Pearls18]

My boys have those little trunkiis, when we go away I get them to pack the toys they want, DH and I pack the rest.