DD is starting her second year of preschool and I'm deciding if I want to get her a new backpack. DH thinks she should just use the cheap one she had last year but I thought it would be fun to take her to Target and have her pick one out herself. How often do you get your LO backpack? Every school year? Every few years?
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They have had the same little Lug backpacks since they started daycare at 1 year old. DD1 is 4yo in preschool but it's all that she needs.
When she starts school next year I will get her a LL Bean backpack that will last her for years and years.
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B is 3.5. I got him a backpack when he started daycare at 1, one of the Skip Hop ones, but now I feel like it's too babyish - he gets all excited about his friends' Star Wars and Batman backpacks. I was thinking about taking him to pick out a new one when he started kindergarten, but that's still a year away, so I got him a Batman one and put it away for Christmas. I kind of had the idea of going to pick out a new one every year as part of back to school shopping, but that might be expensive.
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My DDs both got skip hop backpacks for their second birthdays. This year, at 3 & 5, they're getting pottery barn small backpacks because they need to fit a folder for school. I think I'll plan to offer them new ones in two years, for second grade and kindergarten, unless something happens to these before then.
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I plan to offer them new backpacks every year if they want them. I like new supplies!
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DD1 has the same backpack she's had since 2 for "school" at 4.5 and she'll keep it all this year because it looks good and she doesn't need anything bigger! i'll get her something new next year for Kinder when she needs a larger one for folders and stuff. probably pass down that one to DD2 because it's a cool one!
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Also, if mine are wanting new backpacks every year, I might be inclined to oblige (simply because I love school supplies), but I would stop allowing them to have their name on their bag to make it easier to donate/pass on to a sibling or cousin.
I am trying to be a little more conscious about what my shopping behavior is teaching my kids about consumption/consumerism. I don't mean to sound holier-than-thou, because, believe me, we've got a long way to go on this (!!eek!!), but I'm trying to get them to make thoughtful decisions about what they love/really want versus what they just think is neat in the moment. Back to school clothes/backpacks/coats seem like a good way to start.
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My son is going into first grade and he is happily using his backpack from last year that is still in good shape.
I didn't get a new backpack or bookbag every year, and I don't think my son needs a brand new one each year. Now, if it gets ruined during the school year, we can replace it, but I am trying to show him that you don't need new everything every school year.
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I don't have kids yet but I do not plan to buy a new backpack every year. That seems super wasteful, expensive, and unnecessary. I also don't want my kids growing up thinking they NEED the best/ newest whatever.
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When in DCP never - they used the same ones forever!
Now that they are in actual school it depends on the price. If they want a $20 backpack I would be ok buying one each year and donating the old one. If they wanted a nicer one I would make sure they use it for several years.
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We used the same one for 3 years of preschool. Got a new one for kinder (preschool one is ok condition but too small) and tried to make it part of the excitement of being a big kid - gave it to her as a graduation present. Hoping it will last 3 years at least!
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They used the Skip Hop ones as toddlers, and then didn't get a new backpack til Kindergarten. I purposely got a design that was more neutral so that it can grow with her. It's still in great condition so she'll be reusing it for 1st grade, but we'll probably replace it whenever it starts falling apart. It would be nice if it can last her all through elementary school. I still have my Jansport backpack that I had since middle school!
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My oldest is using the same lunchbag and backpack this year. My husband is not one for waiting for big events (like Christmas or back to school or birthdays), but is very into using things as long as they are in good shape/needed and then buying new whenever they legitimately need a new one.
Her lunchbag is starting to get kind of beat up (and it was free and given to us anyway), so we"ll start the school year with it then replace as needed when it wears out.
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We got two at the beginning of kinder. One is being used again in first because it is dark colored and durable and the other as a sleepover backpack. It was cheaper but is still in decent condition. She didn't get one in preschool. Next year she will need a bigger size because second graders have much more to carry.
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We bought my son a backpack around age 4, and he used it all year for kindergarten. It was destroyed by the end of the year, so we bought a new one for 1st grade. I bought a nicer one and I'm hoping it will last at least 2-3 years (and it's big, so size/volume shouldn't be a problem). I am also trying to teach my kids about not being wasteful, taking care of what they have, and reusing things for as long as possible.
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She's going into her 3rd fall with the same one from HA for childcare- I expect we will get her a new one for kindergarten or if this one fails earlier than then
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She has 4 backpacks, all were gifts from friends/family. At this rate, I'll never have to buy one myself
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I wasn't planning to get new ones for 2nd year of preschool this year but wound up doing so after two days...last year's don't fit a full sheet of paper and they are needing to bring those home. That said I still searched "preschool backpack" on amazon because I hate how the big kid backpacks hang down to their knees!
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We are replacing as needed. We have one backpack for school and each activity has one also (swim lessons and gymnastics). Also have one for LO to take over for afternoons at her grandparents' houses.
I got a new backpack every year as a kid though and I turned out fine.
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The small Pottery Barn backpack is a perfect size for kindergarteners medium to small. My first grader is petite and she is still wearing it from last year. They have a bigger selection of dark colors out now. Love the small sizing.
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We bought him a pbk one two years ago when he was starting preschool, and then another pbk one when he was starting a new school last year. He's going to reuse the one from last year this year. If he wants a new one for Kindergarten next year, I'd get one, but I'm guessing that he likes the one he has too much.
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@travelingnanny: I agree. I plan to buy quality backpacks and replace as they wear out. No need to buy just for the heck of it.
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We got PBK ones when each started day care. LO1 started at 1 year and LO2 started at 4 months. They'll be 5 and 2 in September, and they're still using the same ones. They're really durable and I haven't had the need to change them.
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