The child’s backpack is probably one of the most used items in the child’s schooling life. It is essential in carrying the child’s item to and from school.
The school bag needs to withstand daily usage, rough treatment as the child dishes and packs their belongings and locker storage.
This explanation brings us to the primary discussion of the article; how do you choose a backpack for a kindergarten child.
Table of Contents
How to choose a backpack for a kindergarten child – 7 tips to consider
- Quality
A school backpack is among the items with a wide selection varying from quality to pricing during the back-to-school season.
Take advantage of the sales at this time but remember to shop wisely. Do not look at the price rather the quality and service the backpack will give you and your child.
A poor-quality back will only last for weeks or months, not enough for the expected period. Remember, after the school sale season ends, it will be very difficult to get a good quality bag.
Three vital things to check when purchasing a backpack;
- Avoid uneven, loose or poorly done stitches.
- Choose zippers with fabric flaps to keep water and withstand other harsh weather elements.
- Pass on backpacks with frayed fabric edges that could unravel easily.
- Perfect size or fit
The comfortability of the child should be a priority with the backpack. Backpacks that don’t fit well have the potential of causing back or shoulder strain and pain. When purchasing the bag, its width should be proportional to the child’s width.
The height ought to be 2-inches below the shoulder to the waist level or slightly above the waist. A small child should not be carrying an adult-sized backpack.
- Broad and padded straps
Broad and padded straps offer protection to the shoulder from excess pressure and comfort to the child. Fix the strap evenly to distribute the weight of the backpack evenly to avoid strain on one shoulder. The straps should be of equal length for proper positioning.
- Get a backpack with compartments and pockets
A school bag with pockets and compartments helps in the distribution of the weight. The heavier stuff should be close to the child’s back and the lighter ones far from the body to evenly distribute the extra weight.
- Test before purchasing
You can bring a few things the child would carry to school and sip them into the backpack to get a clear idea of the weight distribution in the bag. Most probably, as you shop for the bag, you’ll be shopping for other school items; hence you can use them as testers.
- Adjustable straps
If the backpack comes with waist or chest straps, ensure they sit well with your child. These straps are usually designed to help in the distribution of weight. Thus they should do just that and not create a sense of discomfort in the child. The three straps rule;
- The chest straps should be adjustable to have the shoulder straps in so the arms can freely move.
- The chest straps should be at a height where it is most comfortable for the child.
- The waist belt should go around your child’s waist.
- Take into account the child’s style
The most important factor in the backpack purchase is the child. Your child is the one who will be carrying the bag daily. While the fit, size and quality are important aspects to consider, it is also important that you figure out what the child would like. After all, you wanted them to be proud and excited wearing their backpack daily.
If your child’s design contradicts the quality and size, you can always look for a compromise. For instance, if it’s the animations and color that draw them to a particular bag, you can compromise with another high-quality, brightly colored backpack.
Furthermore, you can personalize the style by adding accessories that the child likes on the backpack or get one custom-made.
What is the best size for a kindergartener backpack?
Size is essential in the purchase of a backpack due to comfortability and your child’s health. First, before you can purchase a backpack, take the child’s measurement. The two most important measurements are the;
- Width of the kid
- Height of the child
The height
For the height, measure the distance between the waistline and the shoulder line of your child. The shoulder line is halfway between the neck and the shoulder tip, while the waistline is around the hip bone.
The back straps should lie on the shoulder line and rest on the waistline. Add two inches from the actual measurements you get to ensure that the bag will be an appropriate fit for your child’s back.
The width
You can find the width of your child in various ways. Nonetheless, the best way is to measure around the ridges of the shoulder blades. Also, in this case, you can add an inch or two to the stated measurements.
If you don’t have the measuring tools or if your child can’t sit still, this article provides the approximate sizes that may help you.
Age height in inches width in inches
4 11 6
5 12 6-7
6 12-13 7
7 13 7
The height and width of your child should match that of the bag.
Small Backpacks
This size backpack is ideal for a small kindergarten child. It normally has 15-20 liters suitable to hold everything the child needs, including electronic gadgets like laptops or tablets. In addition, small backpacks have extra compartments to hold pencils and pens.
Medium Backpacks
If the child has extra luggage to carry, a slightly larger backpack will be convenient. The medium backpacks come in handy and have a capacity of 21-30 liters. It can hold all the child’s needs, and at the same time, it is not extremely large and heavy for the small children to carry.
The 3 major problems with a bag the wrong size
Back pains
Having the wrong size backpack puts your child at risk of back pains because of the uneven distribution of the weight. Such a bag increases pressure on the spine that causes muscle strain.
Neck and shoulder pains
The wrong-sized backpack subjects your child to neck and shoulder pain due to muscle strain and pressure like back pains.
Rounded shoulders
When you get an oversized backpack, rounded shoulders are a common problem because you did not measure the child’s width. Rounded shoulders begin when the child’s posture begins to lean forward and can permanently distort the child’s posture even into adulthood.
Conclusion – Kindergarten is the beginning of a child’s new journey in life, and a backpack is essential in this process. With the help of this article, you will make this experience memorable for your child by getting them the most suitable backpack.