My son is going on his first residential to France this weekend. What am I forgetting?

[YoSof]

For four days I have packed -

Passport
health card
Refillable water bottle
toiletries including insect repellent, sun cream and anti histamines
One pair of joggers
two pairs of shorts
four tshirts
one hoodie
underwear and socks
Sliders and trainers
Sleeping bag and pillow
iphone battery pack thingy
Euros and some English pounds

What am I missing? Should I pack some snacks?

Towel and pyjamas?

I have packed pyjamas but had forgotten the towel! Thank you!

Hat

sunglasses if he's not wearing them on the day

Is he likely to swim?

Swim trunks. Almost all public pools insist on "proper" close fitting trunks.

How are they getting there? If these trips still involve hours on a coach I'd definitely pack stuff for the journey.

What sort of thing will get be doing on the residential?
When I did mine (a very long time ago albeit) we did a lot of outdoor activities so got a bit grubby, so we usually changed our clothes for evening meal. Might be good to have a couple of spares?

Lightweight pac-a-mac type waterproof coat

A bag for dirty clothes

Bin bags for wet/muddy clothes? And I recommend getting DS to pack it himself- even if you tidy it up afterwards- because otherwise they swear blind they haven’t got X or Y thing, which of course was there all along. And a phone charger if he’s taking a phone - the battery pack won’t last for 4 days worth. Hope he has fun!

Thank you all.

No swimming, he is mayonnaise making, visiting a local market town, visiting the Eiffel Tower and then going to a French supermarket and completing a challenge where the shopping list he is given is in French, the chateau has evening activities that I assume will be outdoor so spare clothes is a great idea.

I have a packed lunch for the coach and they can buy food on the ferry, I was thinking of packing snacks for while he’s there?

More trousers. One spill or storm and he'd be freezing

I'd pack extra clothes. As a PP said, they'll likely get dirty and need to change for other trips/activities.
Two pairs of swim shorts so one can always be drying.

Great idea getting him to pack! He has a charger too, the battery pack is really for the journey there and back….if he remembers to charge it again 🙄

Might be just a turn of phrase but surprised to read 'I've packed' rather than 'he's packed' or 'we' ve packed' How old is he?

Will you unpack and let him repack so he knows what he has and where it is? Have been on residentials with kids where only the very top layer of stuff unpacked for days as they 'didn't know' they had spare socks etc... 🤣

Adding a waterproof coat and more trousers thank you!

Plasters and paracetamol (if allowed)

An adapter so that he can charge his phone/battery pack wherever he's staying.

Loads of snacks.

Adapter

how old?
from about 12 yo dc should pack themselves with a basic packing list.

a contactless bank card.
we were not able to use the laundrette last year because our cards have lost the contactless ability.

He is 12, by packed I mean I have currently got all the above out, folded and ready to go in his case. I will do the actual packing after school today so he can see what’s going in like a poster suggested.

And yes, I am the mum that does his packing. Don’t worry though, he does more than his fair share at home including cooking and cleaning - I pack for my own peace of mind, although I’m clearly not great at it because I forgot the towel!

You'd be surprised. Our y7 class WhatsApp drives me bonkers with about 5 mums who seem to do everything for their kids - drives me so mad I checked with dd who their kids were - all boys...

Micro fiber towel for quick drying?
torch/head torch for night time shenanigans
sweets
more clothes I think.
day pack/rucksack
mine always took their own pillowcase as they liked the smell
ear plugs (essential for dorms!)
shower shoes/flip flops
loo roll
small anti bac for hands

Yy to more trousers. As a minimum one to wear, one to wash dry and one spare. Again at least 2 hoodies.