Packing and Executive Function Skills

Involve your child in the planning and organizing of packing for overnight camp or a family vacation (don’t do it all for her!). It’s a great opportunity to model and practice executive function skills!

Make packing a four-step process: 

1. Start with the big picture: How long will she be away (and what size bag will she need)? What will the weather be like? Which activities will she take part in?
2. Create a list of all the things she’ll need to bring along with her and organize the list into categories: morning and bedtime routine, clothes for the variety of weather she’ll encounter, items needed for the activities she’ll take part in, etc.
3. Start packing. And for a little spatial relations practice, turn packing into a puzzle challenge to maximize space.
4. Once all the packing is done, the final step is to check her work. Double-check the original list and make sure she’s accounted for everything. She certainly doesn’t want to overlook her bathing suit, favorite shirt, or summer reading books!