Help me pack like a grown up

[PartyOFive]

Tldr: what would you take for 10/12 yo boys for 10 day summer holiday in Eurocamp?

lWith three kids and in mid-40s you'd think I'd be able to pack well by now and obviously I can and have packed for many holidays...

But I HATE it. Try to be organised with lists, planning what works together etc. Find this whole process so stressful and hate decisions on what to take so always leave to last minute and end up in panic, leaving house in massive tip as i search for things and discard stuff i dont want.

Usually over pack but still manage to forget stuff, or if I try to be streamlined I end up feeling we've not got enough.

Packing for me plus kids doesn't help this so now eldest two are 10 and 12 want to get them more involved, plus actually try to be organised for our 10 day holiday in August. Is northern Europe Eurocamp so hopefully warm, by beach. In a static home but is laundrette on site. Traveling there by train so don't want to be too heavily laden.

What would you put on their packing lists?
Also, any other tips for how I overcome this packing incompetence?

Two pairs of swimming trunks / rash guard / whatever they wear in the water.
Goggles.
Sliders / flip flops / crocs (get them to wear trainers on the way there)
Kagoul / rain jacket
Fleece / hoodie
5 pairs shorts
8 tshirts
10 pants
Jogging bottoms / jeans depending where you are going
Socks
Pjs

Are you in a tent or static?

Ignore me just reread about the static!

I pack for 5 days and then do laundry day 5 and 10 allowing 24 hours to dry.

5 x T shirts and shorts per child. Put them in plastic bags once folded, include underwear if you like so they empty a bag per day. That's 5 bags per child, 10 bags that flatten well. That's day wear sorted for 2 weeks.

Pack these first then think of extras, warm hoodie or long trousers etc. The just in case things.

Pack pool/ swim wear.

Lastly choose travel clothes incl hoodie and runners and have them isolated somewhere so they are out of use for a few days and clean.

Edited to add I misread as 2 weeks. I'd do days 4 and 8 laundry.

They need a small back pack each, they can bring tablets, books games etc. Let them choose these. Sunglasses and hats go in here. I take the essentials of a few board games into a little plastic box. Rechargers in another box. These boxes are handy for the fridge later.

Dont pack toiletries ,buy a bottle of shampoo / body wash / moisturiser / toothpaste day 1 for the family to share.

For future reference, create a packing list saved on your phone. You can then amend it for different types of holiday or adapt for the weather forecast.

What are you planning to do? Spend the time on the beach, go out in the evening, go sightseeing?

To get you started, I think about things in categories to break down the task and work out what is needed (try to guesstimate how much time you will spend doing each category and how many times you can wear an item (don’t forget shoes) eg

Underwear/socks
Nightwear
Lounge clothes
Beachwear
Swimwear
Sportswear
Other clothes eg for sightseeing, going out
Rainwear/cold weather clothes
Shoes
Toiletries

Paperwork (tickets, passports, insurance etc)
Books
Games/entertainment
Toys
Sports equipment
Beach stuff (towels, armbands)
Linen (towels/bedding)
Electrical stuff (phones, chargers, laptop, adapters etc)
Household/camping stuff (cooking equipment, laundry stuff etc)
Bags

Flight/travel stuff (eg snacks, books)

If you get there and have forgotten something, add it to the list for next time!

You need packing cubes! Three for each person - underwear and socks. Tops. Bottoms. Keep everything in the cubes while you're away.

Something like this but there are tons of different ones.

You can use one for tech stuff (chargers etc), one for toiletries, etc. They are life-changing.

Thank you all for tips and lists so far.

I am considering packing cubes as found a similar thing useful over recent years - would put biys swim stuff and beach towels in a waterproof bag each which could then be taken to pool/Beach in a bigger bag. Though also know I have a tendency to buy stuff to solve my chaos, which ends up with lots of stuff and still the chaos. But also like idea of being able to pack up stuff into a bag bit by bit and then just put all into suitcase at end.

@BobandRobertaSmith I do actually have packing lists on spreadsheets, which I started after the time I forgot almost all my own clothes and knew i needed to have a system. think problem is I have a vague item on list (eg 5 tops) and then get totally overwhelmed trying to decide which, keep track on how many are in the bag, throw 2 extra in for luck, end up bypassing the list in a panic, still forget stuff or run out of room.

Hence wanting to see other lists and get an idea where mine might be falling short. Also why I think giving boys more control of their own packing will help cos less decisions for me=less overwhelm.

Maybe also just packing by outfit not clothes type would help.

I also like @Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong idea of taking stuff in boxes which can be used for fridge and picnics.

Thanks again everyone, determined this time to leave the house as calm as possible....

For myself, I pack the things that it will p* me off/ruin the holiday if I forget them and things I can't do without (things like passport, money, comb, toothbrush, mirror, nail clippers, swiss army knife... and underwear and swimsuit)
Clothes-wise, only things I know I will use.
For camping/beach, crocs are great.

Think capsule wardrobe when packing. Things need to mix and match.

It seems like you are already “packing like a grown up” 😂 it’s just you feel overwhelmed by deciding which “tops” and “bottoms” to pack at the last minute when you are actually doing the packing. Make that decision now!

Can you try to come up with a rough itinerary eg you expect to spend 2 days travelling, 2 days sightseeing, 8 days on the beach, 1 night eating out? So you would need 1 or 2 comfy travel outfits with layers (depending on if you do laundry), 1 or 2 sightseeing outfits (eg maybe long trousers and comfortable shoes), 4-8 beach outfits, and 1 smart outfit, plus something warmer for evenings (eg a hoody and jogging bottoms).

Then choose the outfits now - either in your head or go and physically look at them, if you find that easier. Start with the easy stuff like PJs. Put them together as outfits right down to socks so you don’t fall into the trap of packing extra stuff just in case. It’s good for your DC to get involved in picking clothes but IME it isn’t necessarily less stressful 😂 You could even put them aside ready to pack now.

Then have a last minute rejig once you know the weather forecast eg swap some shorts for long trousers if the weather looks chilly.

If you have room, I would recommend packing a few things such as table tennis bats & balls, a football, a frisbee. Although these could probably also be bought there. And some card games or travel board games that you can play on the train or in your accommodation.

We have done many Eurocamp holidays over the years & love them! But we have often found that there is little to no wifi or it is expensive, so plenty to keep the kids entertained is vital! On that note, maybe download anything to watch or play before you go. Also check roaming charges for any phones you have.

Definitely pack by outfit so you don't end up with a load of clothes that don't match half way through the week! Or a pair of shorts can probably be worn twice so 2 t-shirts that go with them. If you're going to eat out or do on-site entertainment in the evening then maybe a couple of nicer outfits for yourself but for the kids they could wear clean clothes in the evening which then become their beach / activity shorts for the next day.

Pack a torch and a pack of cards. Neither take up much space and can be a godsend.

How I get kids to understand packing. For a week, every single time they touch something, from a toothbrush to an iPad, they write it down. That's what they need. Plus summer stuff like goggles and swimming costumes.

don't forget phone/device chargers and adaptor plugs.

I came back to this by chance as I was again searching for tips on packing...i remain entirely overwhelmed by it even though I have done it for years. Last summer while the packing worked in terms of not forgetting anything and packing cubes kept it all neat in the caravan, I was so stressed in the run up...it's the decisions I hate. This year the eldest is packing for himself for a one week trip, a beach holiday. Hoping that will help keep me less stressed but bumping this for any more tips on packing and how to not feel so overwhelmed by planning

I tell chatgpt exactly who is going, when and where and then ask it to make me a list.
It hasn't packed for me yet but it's a start!