Packing / Holiday hacks for kids going abroad without me.

[xoomer]

DC are going abroad for a week. They do not do anything for themselves. They are going with my sister who doesn't have children.

I need to make this holiday stress free for them and her.

I've got them a toiletries bag each.

I'm getting a dirty washing bag each.

I thought about getting 10 draw string bags to put clothes in for each day / night? The older one chooses her clothes but the youngest doesn't. Is this OTT?

They don't even put their dirty clothes in the washing basket here. Im so embarrassed to say I do everything for them. I'm pretty sure they will try harder with my sister though.

Any tips / advice. Thank you.

Having been the aunt who took nieces/nephews on holiday, my tips would be:

1. Make sure each of them has 2 pairs of underwear for each day- so that if they change for the evening the don't end up running out half way through the holiday. I cannot stress this enough
2. If you are able to, explain to your sister (not just the DC) what clothes you are sending and where they are packed. This will save a lot of stress when the DC inevitably claim that they can't find something critical
3. Depending on their size/age I think an outfit for each day in a separate small plastic bag would work well.

How old?

It depends how old they are.

Small packing cubes. So one for tops, one for bottoms, one for underwear, one for misc stuff. Colour codes so eldest child is green, middle is purple etc. which stops stuff getting mixed up. Clear plastic toiletries bag of appropriate size that they can get ready for security in advance. Agree on double the underwear and a few extra day outfits especially as they sound like they’re young enough to get ice cream down their fronts.

I'm too embarrassed to say. They are 11 and 13 but awaiting ADHD assessments.

When I go on holiday I pack my kids outfits in ziplock bags, they just pick a bag and get dressed.

I'd also pack any teddies / things they sleep with.

When mine went on their residential I put a note in each bag too, they loved that.

Can you figure out what clothes they need to take and have them out on their bed and then get them to pack them away in the suitcase with you? That way they will know what is there (but haven't just packed wildly inappropriate items of clothing like all trousers and no pants or t shirts etc).
Then they can also choose a couple of teddies and a book to go in or whatever other small toy they can fit.

They need to pack, you can check, but they have to take ownership.
Talk through how many days they are going for, and what they will need. It doesn't matter if they end up wearing their pants for 3 days running, but it does matter if they don't have things they need, eg swimming costumes, spare shoes( can be hard and expensive to replace away from home, and they always break/ get lost at the most inconvenient times. )
They'll need a hoody and shorts and T-shirts,and don't send anything you'll be upset over if they lose it. They need a small card with all holiday address details on it, and know your sister's mobile number off by heart. And instructions to know where the other is at all times.

If you think they’ll struggle then I’d do what you suggest and pack the outfit for each day in a labeled freezer bag.
Then also include

• A bag of spare underwear and socks.
• A bag of swim/beach stuff (put it all together so it’s easy to find- so swimming costumes, flip flops, goggles, sunscreen, towel, sunglasses, hat, dry bag). Pre-packed into a beach bag.
• Toiletries bag each.
• A couple of sweat shirts or cardigans (that can be worn with any of their outfits).
• A spare pair of shoes
• A bag of things like phone chargers and adapters.
• A very clearly identifiable bag to give to their aunt as soon as they arrive. Including important documents, medication, spare charger etc.

Then give them a small bag that they can pack themselves with anything that they think they’ll need (gadgets, books, fun clothes, make-up etc).

I’d get them to pack the bags with you so they can have some input and also see what you are doing. I’d also make a checklist as you put things in so they can see what they need to repack when they come home (and to make it easier for their aunt to help them).

I have ADHD and find it much easier if I have lists (I wasn’t diagnosed until my 30s so came up with a lot of coping mechanisms).

I’d also give them each their own suitcase so things don’t get muddled up.

If you wanted them to have a bit more flexibility then you could just do a packing cube each for tops, one for shorts/skirts/trousers, one for underwear etc so they can easily find things but make up their own outfit (if everything is suitable for the weather and easily mix/match then it shouldn’t be a problem, even if the outfits they pick clash a bit)

getting them to pack with you is definitely the best advice. I used to take cubs to camp and most of the kids didn’t know if they had a jumper, waterproof, dry socks etc or where it was in their bag! Packing in outfits is a good call unless they’ve got lots of interchangeable tops and bottoms.

Thanks all lots of advice here.

I'm autistic too so I like order it's madness. They won't care to pack with me but will blame me if there is something I don't pack lol.

If they will blame you they have to help pack. Even if they don't want to.

No one wants to do the washing up but it still needs doing.

They are old enough to do it for themselves but given what you have said I would help them (this time).