I Don’t Pack My Kids’ Suitcases Anymore-Here’s the System That Works

The easy way to pack my Kids' suitcases without doing it for them

Vacation prep used to mean managing five different suitcases mine, my husband's and all the kids’. I’d usually start a week in advance and still be scrambling the night before our trip. But now? I don’t pack my kids’ suitcases anymore-they pack their own, and it’s been a total game changer.

Are they fully capable of doing it all on their own? Not exactly. They’re in that in-between stage-too old for me to do everything, but not quite responsible enough to handle it solo. Left to their own devices, they’d either forget half of what they need or beg me to just do it for them.

So, what changed? The whiteboard.

I’ve mentioned it before in my chore system post that we use these whiteboards all the time. And now, I use one to help pack my kids suitcases for vacations. Best $8 spent in this household!

🧳 How It Works

A day or two before the trip, I write out a simple packing checklist on the whiteboard for each kid. I break it down into categories and amounts like this as an example:

• 3 outfits for dinners or dressier occassions

• 5 casual outfits- shorts and tops

• 3 Swimsuits & Coverups

• 3 pajamas/lounge clothes

• Shoes- flip flops, tennis shoes, dress shoes

• Under garments

• List out their toiletries needed

• Plane carry-on items or Items for a Road trip (book, headphones, sunglasses, chargers)

  
  

When they have finished packing, I call them in and we go over it together so there are no surprises.

I still check their suitcases before we zip them up, but now they’ve done 90% of the work. I’m not up all night before a trip doing it for them, and they’re learning how to prepare, what to bring, and how to take ownership of their things.

✅ Why This Works So Well:

• It's visual and easy to follow.

• It teaches kids and tweens to pack independently without overwhelming them.

• It lightens my mental load before family travel.

• They actually feel proud of doing it themselves (even if they act like they’d rather not).

  
  

✈️ Final Thoughts

Whether you’re headed on a quick weekend getaway or a full-blown beach vacation, having your kids help with packing is one less thing on your plate-and a big step toward raising confident, independent travelers.

So no, I don’t pack their suitcases anymore.I just give them a system that helps them do it (mostly) on their own.

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