Ok, I am not one of those moms who likes to pack for my kids. I think this is something they need to do for themselves and I advocate this! As a Girl Scout leader, I preach to the parents to let the girls pack for camping themselves, with supervision from a parent. This way, the girl knows what is packed and where it is.
So with that being said, my girls are now 10 (almost 11) and 14 and they have been packing for themselves for the past couple of years. What I have started to do with them is type up a packing list of exactly what our itinerary is (always subject to change), what we plan on doing, the weather and what they need. They are responsible for pulling the clothes they want. With my youngest, I have her lay out all the clothes she wants to bring and then we go over the list as we put them in the suitcase.
Here's an example of the trip we are leaving on tomorrow:
St. Thomas Packing
List
(plan for 6 days/5
nights)
Itinerary
Day 1 – Fly to Miami (1:50 p.m.),
dinner at airport in MIA, fly to St Thomas.
Arrive 8:10 p.m.
Day 2 – Spend the day shopping in
Charlotte-Amalie; evening at
Marriott Resort/pool/beach. - HOT
Day 3 – St. Johns – Trunk Bay
snorkeling/swimming/exploring - HOT
Day 4 – Tortuga – Cane Garden Bay
snorkeling/swimming/exploring - HOT
Day 5 – Marriott
Resort/pool/beach - HOT
Day 6 – Fly to Miami (9:10 a.m.),
lunch at airport in MIA, fly to Tampa.
Arrive 5:00 p.m.
Packing List
8 underwear I will pack toothpaste, toothbrushes, Chap-Stick,
bras sunblock, and swim masks & snorkels
4 socks We will use shampoo/conditioner from hotels.
4 shorts
6 shirts
1-2 sundresses or cute short set
(shopping in town, dinner out)
2 bathing suits
flip flops
2 pjs
beach cover-up
tennis shoes/walking shoes
toothbrush
deodorant
make-up (Caitlin)
hair bands/head bands/brush
jewelry (please keep to a
minimum)
Backpacks for Plane
cameras/batteries/chargers/memory
disks
books/Nook/charger
iPad/chargers
Here's an example of another one from a trip 2 years ago:
Mediterranean Cruise Packing List
(plan for 11 days/10
nights)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Airplane for 24 hours
Day 2 - Arrive in Venice, 53 F,
rainy, spend the day & 1 night
Day 3 - Board ship, at sea,
dinner on ship
Day 4 - Arrive Split, Croatia, 64
F, light rain, walking, dinner on ship
Day 5 - At sea, dinner on ship
Day 6 - Arrive Naples, Italy, 60
F, trip to Pompeii, lots of walking,
dinner on ship
Day 7 - Arrive Rome, Italy, 60 F,
train, lots of walking, dinner on ship
Day 8 - Arrive Livorno, Italy, 55
F, train, Florence/Pisa, LOTS of walking,
dinner on ship
Day 9 - Arrive Toulon, France, 55
F, walking, dinner on ship
Day 10 & 11 - Arrive
Barcelona, depart ship, check into hotel, walking,
spend 2 nights, 55 F
Day 12 - Fly home – flight VERY
early in the morning
Packing List
12 underwear I will pack toothpaste, toothbrushes,
bras Chap-Stick
12 socks We will use
shampoo/conditioner from hotels
4-5 pants and cruise ship.
8 shirts
4-5 sweaters
1 heavy jacket
1 rain jacket
scarves/hat/1 set gloves
tennis shoes/walking shoes (all comfortable)
deodorant
make-up (Caitlin)
hair bands/head bands/hair brush
jewelry (please keep to a
minimum)
1 bathing suit
Backpacks
cameras/batteries/chargers/memory
disks
books/Nook/charger
DS/iPod/chargers
Blankie –
if want (only 1 small stuffed animal)
This is pretty self-explanatory. I think this give my kids a little responsibility plus they like all the clothes they pack, not outfits I would have put together (that never flies anymore because I am old and I don't remember what it was like being a kid!).
Well, I am off to pack for myself and then leaving tomorrow. Can't wait to tell you all about our trip but that will be for another post!
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