I’ll never forget when my oldest daughter (who was seven at the time) insisted that she was old enough to pack her own bag for a sleepover. Brimming with pride, she allowed me to do one “small check” to ensure she had included everything she needed for the one-night jaunt.

Her yellow and red Curious George backpack was devoid of any toothbrush, toothpaste or even pajamas. Instead, eight pairs of shoes (I didn’t even know she owned eight pairs) filled the crevices of her bag, along with about 15 hair elastics and a plethora of toys. Clearly, we weren’t “there” yet.

Packing their own suitcase for a holiday is something that kids love to do to demonstrate their growing independence. There are a number of ways that frazzled parents can accommodate this important milestone, while ensuring you’re not spending a small fortune on kid’s essentials when you reach your destination.

Make a List. Check it Twice.

Kids who can read often enjoy following a checklist and crossing off the items once they are placed in their bag. If you travel a fair amount, you can even keep a list of essentials on your computer to print off when it’s time to pull out the suitcases. Right now, my daughters are all about a clipboard, and the oldest (who can read) likes to “supervise” her sisters’ packing, checking off items as they go in.

This works better than her cranky Mama saying “I told you three times to find your bikini bottoms…” when we’re two minutes away from the beach, but far away from said bikini bottoms.

Let Them Pack Their Carry-on

A couple of years ago, we were given two brilliant pink mini Barbie suitcases on wheels as gifts. I hated them, as I do everything with blatant logos. My daughters loved them, of course. Unfortunately. They were also a perfect size for a kids’ carry-on.

If your young ones are too little to check off five pairs of panties and two pairs of sandals, they will love being in charge of packing their precious treasures. The size of these small, wheeled suitcases are perfect for ensuring they don’t overdo the Lego and stuffies, and are easy for them to manage on their own through the airport.

The ugly Barbies were easy to spot in a crowd if they were ever forgotten, plus they fit perfectly between two kids’ car seats, so their treasures can stay close at hand. Reserve these suitcases for anything fun or special your child wishes to bring, and encourage them to include quiet games and activities like beading and crayons.

Just don’t do what I did on our last trip, and forget to check the contents before we left, whereupon security swooped in and confiscated my daughters’ scissors, leading to many tears and apparently no vacation from mommy guilt.

The Mommy Scan

Yes, it is great that they are ready to take over some of the responsibility for their own belongings, but, up until about age 12, depending on your child, you still need to check to ensure that everything they need has been packed. This is best left for when they aren’t around, especially if they are particularly proud of themselves.

And there will be the inevitable struggle to bring along the three-foot stuffed unicorn named “Queenie.” How you handle this is up to you, but I have found citing mythical airline regulations works far better than the long, involved story I made up about Queenie missing her friends at home, to which my youngest answered, “but she’ll have me.” Ahem.

But having Queenie confiscated at security would have surely ruined the trip for everyone.

What do you think is the ideal age for kids to start packing their own travel bags? Share your stories and your tips in the comment section below!

Photo: jamieanne