Executive Function Activity | Planning Skills | Problem Solving | Occupational Therapy Printable

Pack It! Executive Functioning & Life Skills Activity | Planning & Organization Game | OT for Kids

Make executive functioning practice hands-on, functional and relevant to everyday life with this reusable planning and problem-solving activity.

Pack It! challenges students to plan what they will need for 20 different real-life situations.

Students choose a scenario and search through 72 illustrated item cards to select the 5 things they think they will need.

Students can explain their decisions, identify their most important item, decide what they could manage without, solve unexpected problems and adapt their choices when plans change.


WHAT'S INCLUDED?

72 illustrated item cards
20 real-life scenario cards
Pack It! backpack activity board
5 item spaces plus a My Choice option
Optional Executive Function Challenge Questions
Printable US Letter PDF


HOW TO USE

Choose a scenario and place it on the backpack board.

Students select 5 items they think they will need and place them onto the backpack.

The My Choice space allows students to suggest an additional item based on their own preferences or individual needs.

Encourage students to explain the reasoning behind their choices.

There may be more than one appropriate answer — the goal is to encourage students to think, plan and justify their decisions rather than simply find one predetermined set of correct pictures.


OPTIONAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTION CHALLENGES

Use the included Challenge Questions to extend the activity and increase the executive functioning demands.

Students can be challenged to:

Explain – Why did you choose each item?

Prioritize – You can only take 3 things. Which are most important?

Problem Solve – You forgot something. What could you do?

Change the Plan – The weather or situation has changed. Would you pack differently?

Think Ahead – Is there anything you should do or prepare before you leave?

Choose questions appropriate to the student and scenario — there is no need to complete them all.


SKILLS TARGETED

This resource provides opportunities to practise:

Executive functioning
Planning
Organization
Prioritization
Problem solving
Cognitive flexibility / flexible thinking
Decision making
Working memory
Reasoning
Self-monitoring
Functional independence
Communication
Everyday life skills


IDEAL FOR

Occupational Therapy • Therapy Special Education • Life Skills Classes • Executive Functioning Intervention • Resource Rooms • Individual Sessions • Small Groups • Classroom Support • Home Programs

The visual, hands-on format can be particularly helpful for students who benefit from breaking everyday planning tasks into concrete choices.


Laminate the board and cards and add Velcro dots or reusable adhesive for a resource that can be used repeatedly across different students and sessions.


MADE TO SAVE YOU TIME
Great resources take time to research, plan, create and organise. That work has already been done for you.

✓ Save time researching – ideas and activities brought together so you don't have to search for them yourself.
✓ Save time creating – no need to design, format or make your own resources from scratch.
✓ Grab, print and go – ready to use when you need something quickly.
✓ Build your resource bank – keep useful activities, ideas and handouts at your fingertips, so you don't have to remember or search for them again.
✓ Buy once, use again and again – return to your resource whenever you need it.
✓ Created by an Occupational Therapist with 25 years' experience working with children – practical resources shaped by years of working with children and families.

Less time searching and creating. More ready-to-use ideas at your fingertips.


⚠️ TERMS OF USE, LICENSING & SAFETY

BUYING FOR YOURSELF?

Your purchase includes a SINGLE-USER LICENCE for one parent/carer, teacher, therapist or other professional.

You may use the resource repeatedly with ALL the children, students or clients you personally support. Professionals may provide printed or completed materials to those they support and their families. Parents/carers may also share printed copies with professionals supporting their own child.

The digital files may NOT be shared with colleagues or other users.

BUYING FOR AN ORGANISATION OR MULTIPLE STAFF?

If multiple teachers, therapists or other staff need access to this resource, you can either:

• Purchase one copy for EACH user, OR
• Purchase a Multi-User Organisation Licence Upgrade.

Choose whichever option is most cost-effective for your team.

MULTI-USER ORGANISATION LICENCE:

https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/4577030731/upgrade-der-mehrbenutzer

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

This resource is designed for general educational and developmental use at home, school or in therapy settings. Although created by a registered Occupational Therapist, it does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or individualised therapy and does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. Please seek appropriate professional advice for individual developmental or medical concerns.

SAFETY

Where activities involve movement, sensory, fine-motor or other physical tasks, they should be adapted to the individual child and carried out with appropriate adult supervision. Do not use an activity if you are unsure of a child’s safety, ability or medical suitability. Organised Mind accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from the use or misuse of this resource.

COPYRIGHT

All content, illustrations, designs and layouts remain the intellectual property of Organised Mind. Purchase grants usage rights only and does not transfer copyright or ownership.

Resources may not be resold, redistributed, sublicensed, repackaged, altered for resale or uploaded to publicly accessible websites, drives or platforms.

DIGITAL PURCHASES

Due to the nature of digital downloads, sales are final once files have been downloaded. Please contact Organised Mind if you experience a technical issue.

Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers.