DD constantly packing - its driving me mad!

[azazello]

DD is 4. Over the holidays her favourite game has been 'packing to go on holiday'. This involves taking all her toys, clothes and books and throwing them all into a box or suitcase or on top of her bed. I then have a fun filled hour or two trying to sort it all out again.

I've tried talking to her sensibly about it, getting her to help put everything back, quiet time out without toys etc, but she just starts again immediately.

Has anyone else had this? Did you manage to stop it?

ahh it's just a game. as long as she helps tidy it up again afterwards what's the harm?

That would do my head in tbh.
I'd not let her, as I am a mean mummy with better things to do than tidy that lot up, over and over again.

Can you give her a small backpack and explain that is all that is allowed on the plane? Perhaps put out 10 things for her to choose from or allow her to select from one toy box. As she is 4 you could take the attitude ...it's your mess so you clean it up!!!

Can't you leave the stuff boxed up and then she can play "unpacking".Also if you leave it all where she put it she will have to unpack to get it back again(she may tire of this)or do without

She only tidies up when I insist and with a teenage style strop going on. Occasionally screaming too.

I wouldn't particularly mind if she tidied most of it up, or kept things in their tubs but I've got a trunki full of playmobil, small lego and DS' Happyland to look forward to sorting out. We briefly made progress when I hid her bag but her lovely granny gave her her very own suitcase for Christmas plus lots of boxes from presents etc...

I'd leave her to do the unpacking - does it really matter if stuff gets mixed up? Sooner or later, she'll understand that it's more fun if you can find all the lego without having to hunt for it. The "packing" game won't last for ever.

The only problem I can see with the game is that you are deciding to sort all the stuff she has packed. Stop that, and the problem goes away!

Thanks. I do find it very frustrating that things which are all in sets get so mixed up and bits get lost and find it difficult not to make it my problem. I think I will have to work on that.

In the meantime, I like the idea of giving her a small bag and telling her we are only going on a plane so she can only pack a small bag.

Last time, apparently we were moving to Australia so she was trying to put everything in the house into boxes!

Mine do this and it drives me fucking nuts. However, they do nice role-play type stuff - going to airports etc. And it does give me free time for aimlessly surfing the web doing important jobs

my dd does this and always has, she is 5 and shows no signs of giving this game up. I do however forbid clothes and her small toys with lots of bits. I get the dressing up stuff and grocories etc far easier to put away. and as its an ever ending game I tend to just keep it packed or allow those toys to get and remain mixed up.

The annoying thing is when I have lost something and she is asleep in bed and I need it and just know its packed away somewhere by her, but where? grrr.

Have you just moved or been away? Is she worried about losing something or leaving things behind or is she just another DD who loves to wind mummy up like mine:o

Good to hear it might be a phase, even if it is a really annoying one.

We haven't been away for ages, but we tend to camp so we don't exactly pack light and my sister and SIL both live abroad so I think some of it is excitement at the idea combined with really enjoying winding mummy up.

DD does this, drives me bananas. No advice, sorry, but lots of sympathy.

yeah i would agree with saying no to things that aren't hers, and no to anything with lots of small bits.

soft toys etc are fine, and maybe some dolls clothes or something?

I'll be moving soon, I should convince my 2 yr old DD this is a great game.