Packing for trips strengthens executive function skills

Use packing for overnight camp or a family vacation as an opportunity to practice and strengthen executive function skills with your child. Start from the beginning: How long will he be away? What’s the weather going to be like? What kinds of activities will he take part in? Then create a list of all the things he’ll need to bring along with him and organize the list into categories: morning routine, bedtime routine, clothes for warm days, clothes for cold days, activities, etc. Once all the planning is done, it’s time to start packing. The packing may go quickly (thanks to all his up-front planning and organizing!), but remind him he’s not finished until he checks his work. He certainly doesn’t want to overlook his bathing suit, baseball glove, or summer reading books!