How can my child pack their own school bag?
Give your child a picture list of what goes in their bag for each school day, and have them pack it the evening before. A weekly sheet shows Monday to Friday side by side, so gym days and library days are easy to see.
Updated
Make this chartHow to do it
List what goes every day
A water bottle and a snack go in most days. Put them under every day.
Add the day-only items
Gym clothes, library books, an instrument, or show and tell go under their own day.
Add weekend jobs
Saturday's home care and Sunday's self care fill the bottom of the sheet.
Pack the evening before
Your child packs from the sheet after dinner, and you check the bag together at first.
Keep the sheet by the door
Hang it where the bag lives, so the list and the bag are in one place.
Make a picture routine chart
Fill from your school calendarFor families whose school uses Future Nerds.
Steps
- 1
Water bottle - 2
Snack - 3
Folder
Preview
Weekly packing sheet
Monday
Water bottle
Snack
Folder
Tuesday
Water bottle
Snack
Gym uniform
Wednesday
Water bottle
Snack
Library book
Thursday
Water bottle
Snack
Instrument
Friday
Water bottle
Snack
Show and tell
The PDF downloads to your device.
Questions parents ask
- When can a child pack their own bag?
- Many children can pack from a picture list by four or five, with an adult checking. By seven most need no check.
- What if the school changes the week?
- Print the sheet again when a week is different.
- Does the sheet work for two children?
- Print one sheet per child, so each one packs from their own list.
More charts
- How to make a Montessori morning routine chartMake a Montessori morning routine chart with pictures your child can follow alone. What to put on it, in what order, and a free printable.
- How to make a bedtime routine chart for kidsA bedtime routine chart with pictures helps a child get ready for bed with fewer reminders. What goes on it and a free printable chart.
- What should a child pack for a trip?A printable packing list for kids with pictures: clothes, sleep things, toiletries, and a comfort item, plus the jobs to do before you leave.
- How do I make a monthly calendar a child can read?A monthly calendar for kids with pictures for the days that matter: visits, birthdays, and trips. Make one and print it for free.
- Does a toddler need a routine chart, and what goes on it?A routine chart helps toddlers know what comes next. How to make one for a child under three, with fewer steps and big pictures.