Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Holiday Packing Checklist: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Holiday Packing Checklist is a free printable worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children pack their own bag for a trip, then tick each item off the checklist once it is in. It takes about 15 minutes, needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a checklist of things to take on a trip. It includes clothes such as pants, socks and pyjamas, a toothbrush, things for sunny days and swimming, comfy shoes, and a few comforts like a favourite book and a cuddly toy. Children find each item, put it in the bag and tick it off. Reading each line carefully helps them see what is needed and what is still missing.
- Pants and socks
- T-shirts
- Shorts or trousers
- Pyjamas
- Toothbrush
- Sun hat
- Swimming costume
- Towel
- Comfy shoes
- A favourite book
- A cuddly toy
Why let children pack their own bag?
Packing is a real life job that children can start to do for themselves. A list turns a big, muddled task into small steps. Children read one line, find one thing and tick it off. That builds the habit of checking before moving on, which helps with schoolwork as well as holidays.
Packing also makes children think about where they are going and what they will do. Will it be hot, wet or cold? Will they swim? Will they sleep away from home? Talking about these questions links the list to a real trip, so every item has a reason. It also gives a calm way to talk about a trip that feels exciting or a little worrying.
Skills and curriculum link
- Planning ahead
- Independence
- Reading a list
- Making choices
- Checking your own work
Packing ideas to talk about
- Think about the weatherWhat we pack depends on whether the trip will be hot, wet or cold. Ask your child to picture the days ahead before they start.
- Lists help memoryWriting things down means we do not have to remember everything at once. We can look at the list and see what is left.
- Everything must fitA bag only holds so much. Packing means choosing what matters most, so it is a good time to talk about needs and wants.
- Comfort items matterA favourite book or toy can help a child settle in a new place. It is fine for these to be on the list.
Key words
- ChecklistA list of things you tick off when you have found them or done them.
- TickA mark that shows something is done. On this sheet, a tick means the item is in the bag.
- PackPut things into a bag or case ready for a trip.
- PlanDecide what you need to do before you start.
- EssentialSomething you really need to take.
- LuggageThe bags and cases you take on a trip.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Give page 1 to your child before a trip. Let them gather the items and put them in the bag, one line at a time.
- Ask them to tick each item only when it is in the bag. Talk about each choice as they go.
- When they finish, check the bag together against the list. If anything is missing, find it and pack it first, then tick it off.
- Come back to the sheet before another trip. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Lay all the items out on the bed first. Then pick them up one at a time, put each one in the bag and tick it off the list. Read each line aloud together so your child knows what to look for.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to add three extra things of their own to the list. They should say why they need each one. Talk about whether each extra item is really needed, or just nice to have.
Make it a game
Time how fast your child can pack the bag and tick off every item. Then check that nothing is missing. Next trip, see if they can beat their time. Praise careful packing as well as speed.
Talk about it
- Where are we going, and what will the weather be like?
- Which things on the list will you use every day?
- What would you pack if the trip was somewhere cold?
- Which item is most important to you, and why?
- What could go wrong if we forgot something?
- How does a list help you remember?
Take it off the page
Teddy goes on holiday
Ask your child to pack a small bag for a cuddly toy. They choose what it needs and write their own short list.
Pack a pretend suitcase
Use a box or a bag and a pile of clothes. Pack for different trips, such as a beach day or a night at a grandparent's house.
Make a list for a day out
Write a simple checklist together for a picnic or a trip to the park. Tick things off as they go into the bag.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Use it a few days before a real trip. Check the bag together at the end and praise their effort.
Teachers
Use it before a school trip, at the end of term or as a plenary after talking about lists. It works as an early finisher task and needs no preparation beyond printing.
Home educators
Pair it with a real outing, a story about travelling or a chat about places to visit. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or for the next trip.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children learn to read short words and lines of text, and to follow simple instructions. Sorting objects and matching items to a purpose also helps. Sorting clothes or toys at home is good early practice.
After this, children can write their own lists for a trip, a party or a school day. They can plan an activity in order and check their own work. These habits help later with organising homework and bags.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Holiday Packing Checklist for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can try it with a grown up reading the lines aloud. Older children can use it as a quick, practical planning task.
- What will children practise?
They practise planning and independence. They read a list, find each item, pack it and tick it off. Checking the bag at the end also helps them notice what is still missing.
- How do I use it?
Give page 1 to your child before a trip. They gather the items and tick each one once it is in the bag. A grown up checks at the end. It takes about 15 minutes.
- What if it feels too hard?
Lay all the items out on the bed first. Your child then picks them up one at a time, puts each in the bag and ticks it off. Reading the lines aloud together also helps.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or the next trip, and black and white printing works well.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. It suits a lesson before a trip or the end of term.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, plus the real items for the bag. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children moving and talking.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.