To expect a 5 and 8 year old to be able to pack their own overnight bag?

[CrumpledCrumpet]

I’ve asked 8 and 5yo DS’s to pack PJs and a change of clothes in a bag about half an hour ago. Despite increasingly stroppy reminders from me to stay on task, no progress is being made. AIBU to expect children of their age to be able to do this? I’m exasperated!

I do think kids are too babied today my DD is 8 she knows how to use the microwave for simple things use the toaster and make a hot drink , she's not allowed to use the cooker or hob yet but I let her watch me use it. She also knows how to put her own washing on with the liquid tabs and pearls she finds the liquid and powder too tricky so I don't buy them she also puts her washing in the dryer and turns it on. She asks to do these things and wants to be independent which I think is brilliant.

Yes absolutely, but with the go get your toothbrush, go get pj's.
etc etc approach. Otherwise you will get random stuff or not weather appropriate items.

Of course they are capable but I wouldn’t expect them to do it. Your the parent.

Not at 5. At 8 I think they should be able to do this but with a bit of support or you checking afterwards.
Still it does depend if you've always got them involved in packing or just expect them to be able to do it.

Haha I thought this was a reverse and some poor mumsnetter is watching her husband try and make the young dc pack.

My 8yo and 11yo can "pack". The 11yo properly with enough underpants and rather too many changes of clothing plus umpteen football kits and pairs of trainers.

My 8yo would pack their pj's and some undies probably but I'd want to check. The packing would be softtoys and books.

Neither would remember socks and toothbrushes without me checking.

5yo No way!

Just do it yourself, ffs. A 5 year old won't do it right.

Not a hope.

OGenkiDesuKa - In Mumsnet land some people are also capable of expressing a difference of opinion without lacking manners.

A 5yo? No, absolutely not. They're only just starting school at that age. An 8yo? Possibly, depending on how much practise they'd had beforehand, whether they could read a list and knew where to find everything. I would still double-check afterwards though.

Why on earth are you expecting them to just get on with it, though? Surely it's your job as a parent to pack their clothes for them, helping less and less as they get older?

My 5 year old asked to pack his own bag recently and did a great job - only thing he forgot was socks

8; maybe.

5; more chance of seeing a rocking horse poo.

DS1 - 7- could pack PJs and would select other clothes- but they'd be an odd mix and would likely include no underwear and one of his fossils and some lego.

DD - almost 5 - would get her PJs but just an assortment of oddments and I'd find her playing with toys and singing on her bed probably.

I have encouraged packing overnight stuff from similar ages and perhaps would expect the 8 year old to but not 5 without adult input. In fact my 12 year old still needs reminders about his toothbrush

Well we are on our way at last. They did do it in the end. 8yo when I told him that if he was still naked and hadn’t packed a bag in 10mins then that would be how I was taking him. 5yo when I prompted him on the individual items that needed to go in.

I’d made the task very simple for them - I didn’t just say ‘pack your bag’, I’d given them both an empty bag and asked them to put PJ’s, joggers, t-shirt, pants and socks in it, nothing else required. It wasn’t understanding the task that’s the problem, it’s just the messing about.

My 6 and 7 year olds do this no problem. Its pjs an change of clothes (including pants and socks) and their toothbrushes. I tell them that's what they need to Pack and they pack it! I also say that can add any toys they want to take to their grandparents, I don't check the bag but I do ask them once it's packed, have you got x,y and Z and what toys did you take.

Sorry but I don't think that's too much at all!

I'd allow the 5 year old to do it and then check the bag but mostly for me because I'd be worry they would take clothes that don't match etc.

I'd barely trust my teenagers to do it.

My dd6 will happily pack a bag when she is of for a sleep over I obviously check it b4 we leave on occasion I have had to put underwear in.
So yes a 5 year old can pack a bag following instructions just like they should beable to look in there wardrobe an pick an outfit to wear.

Surely being at school is an ideal age at packing a bag? They need step by step instructions until a lot older but I can easily sit on the sofa and ask them to get whatever is needed (homework, lunch bag, water bottle) for their bags. My 9 year old needs a lot less prompting then my 6 year old but both are very capable. Even my 3 year old can fetch me pants and pjs! I think some children are really babied.

8 year old with a list yes. I used to help them write a list.
5 year old could be told to get specific items

I've taught my dc to pack by the outfit, so it goes in the bag as a complete outfit rather than by the item, that way things like socks aren't forgotten and it's not replaced by toys etc. Always one more outfit than you need. Toys go in at then end when you see how much space you have

I thought a 5 most children like a bit of independence picking a pair of pj's and some clothes out is not hard I would be worried if my child could not do this at 5 (obviously you check outfit is appropriate an nothing forgotten)

A lot of children are still overexcited and they are at an age were messing about is still going to be happening. But when you are stressed, trying to get gone, you lose tolerance.

Seriously

Do you actually bother to parent your DCs in other ways, or do you expect them to drag themselves up.🥺

Stop being so bloody lazy & help your DC, especially the 5 yo

Did you make a game out of it (who can put their pants in the bag first)?Did you get them to do it individually (divide and conquer)?

They're kids - packing's boring. You have to cajole them. Not sure why you'd expect anything else!

My just turned 8 year old has been packing all holiday bags on his own since he was six and I just check it with him at the end. He has always been organised.
My just turned 5 year old also wants to pack now and she has a go but I have to tell her what to do and supervise closely eg get 5 pants out, 5 socks etc