PACK IT

We all must pack something in our lives. Right?  We might pack a suitcase for a weekend or summer vacation.  We will pack our backpacks for school or a backpack for a hike. We might have to pack a lunch for ourselves or another family member. So, packing up something might be called a life skill. 

So, parents help your individual, with special needs, learn how to PACK?  This uses their fine motor and motor planning skills. This helps them learn to problem solve. This helps nurture independence.

Suggestions:

1. Teach opening and closing plastic storage bags. Teach putting one item in the zip lock, sealing, and putting it in their lunch bag or box. 
2. Teach opening and closing a suit case. Of course, teach where the suit case is stored. Teach carrying a suit case, short distances. 
3. Teach zipping and unzipping a backpack and of course hanging it up.
4. The next time you go into nature with your son or daughter, pack a backpack. Put something to drink in it.  Have them open the backpack and get the water bottle during the hike and pack it up again.
5. Now the next time you plan a trip, vacation, or holiday with your individual, put it on the calendar and have them check off each day as it gets closer. Put a picture of a suit case on the calendar the day before. Then let them know that there will be practice days ahead for learning how to pack up their suit case for the trip.
6. Break the task down into steps. Have them create a list of items they think they should take. Make them a visual task schedule. They can check each task off as they put items on their bed and then into the suit case.
7. You might have them lay out all clothes, on their bed, they think they will need for the trip. Do they know where they are going?  Have you shown them pictures of the place? Do they know what they will do there?  Talk to them about the weather. Will it be cold or hot? Will they need a coat, jacket, sweater or gloves and a hat?  They could sort items (socks, shirts, pants, underwear).
8. You could have them put category items in a special bag before they put items into the larger suit case (all shirts in one bag, all underwear in another or all socks in another). 
9. Teach them to check their shoes before packing them. Are the bottoms clean? Show them how to clean them.
10. Have them pack their hygiene items in a separate container. Be sure to ask them what hygiene items they need (comb, deodorant, toothpaste and brush, hand soap, shampoo). Once they pack these items in a container, then they can fit it into the suit case.
11. The final task is to figure out how to put all the things in the main case, secure them and then shut the suit case.  
12. Be sure to show them how to put a name tag on the case.  The tag should have their name, address, and phone number on it.  Tell them it helps if they are taking an airplane and their suit case looks like another coming off the suit case tram.
13. You could create a social story about packing suitcases and backpacks. Home - Carol Gray - Social Stories (carolgraysocialstories.com) have them read them to them prior to starting task. You could identify U-tube videos   u-tube video packing suit case - Bing video for them to watch.