Does a preschooler really need a backpack? My preschooler got my mom to buy her two backpacks when she wasn’t even enrolled in school. Bottom line: Kids like bags.
Most preschools in our area offer classes three times a week. The kids are in school for three hours at a time and don’t leave with homework. Therefore, backpacks are not required for class. In fact, after a recent incident where a preschooler brought his dad’s gun to class in his backpack, many preschools banned backpacks all together.
Still, some preschooler’s insist on toting a bag to school, so they can be “like the big kids.” Backpacks do come in handy if your child has personal or medical items that need to be transported to school on a daily basis, but overall the majority of preschool administrators say they are unnecessary.
However, if your preschooler absolutely, positively must have a backpack to take to his three-hour session, health experts recommend that you purchase one that fits properly. Do not buy the same size backpack for your preschooler that you would for a tween. Rather, stick with stores that offer reduced sized backpacks made especially for smaller students.
For example:
L.L. Bean: The reputable retailer stocks a Junior Original Book Pack that measures 14 1/2 by 11 inches and is geared for preschool kids ages 4 and up. The bag comes in six colors and a monogram and/or sports figure can be added for an additional fee.
Pottery Barn Kids: The upscale retailer sells three different style backpacks for preschool age kids. The Mackenzie Backpack is 11 1/2 inches high by 9 inches wide and comes in seven different prints for boys and girls. The company’s Fairfax Preschool Backpacks come in navy and light pink and are 11 by 8 1/2 inches. My favorite is the Preschool Animal Backpack, which is 12 inches by 11 inches and features a pink elephant or green alligator. All of the preschool backpacks can be personalized with up to eight characters.
The Disney Store: The popular kid’s store offers a variety of preschool backpacks featuring famous Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Cars, and Disney Princesses. The backpacks measure 11 by 8 inches and can be personalized with up to 12 characters.
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