toddler/ pre-school backpacks

c&a need backpacks for pre-school in the fall (they'll be going 9-12 two days a week) so i thought it would be cute to get them now so they can bring them with us on our trip to seattle to visit my parents in august. but they don't seem to make a lot that are really geared to the little kids. i would rather not have a commercial character one (e.g., thomas, dora), and that seems to be all they carry at target, toys r us, etc.

pbkids has one that looks cute, or i found these, which are cute but not sure if i like that they don't zip.

any recommendations?

 

I LOVE the pottery barn ones. I'm a teacher, so those will work out really well. Just make sure you don't get ones with wheels! ick and yuck!

Bridget

 

I got the small backpacks from LLBean with their names embroidered on them and they are so cute

 

Children's Place has small backpacks as well. I saw them when I was there last week.

 

Definitely check with your school, the wheely ones are not allowed at K&K's preschool.

I didn't want character ones either, we got ours at Gap.

 

We ordered 2 from LLbean.

There are also some on Hanna Anderson; http://www.hannaandersson.com/home.asp

 

Why is everyone negative about the rolling backpacks? My girls have the rolling backpacks (leopard print & pink) from hanna andersson & we love them. The girls fill them with toys for trips & love wheeling them around at home. They aren't in school, but when (& if) they go, I definitely will not wanting them harming their backs by carrying backpacks full of books. I have never had a child use a rolling backpack in school so I am not sure why people don't like them.

 

QUOTE(BellaRissa @ Jul 17 2007, 03:15 PM) [snapback]334316[/snapback]
Why is everyone negative about the rolling backpacks? My girls have the rolling backpacks (leopard print & pink) from hanna andersson & we love them. The girls fill them with toys for trips & love wheeling them around at home. They aren't in school, but when (& if) they go, I definitely will not wanting them harming their backs by carrying backpacks full of books. I have never had a child use a rolling backpack in school so I am not sure why people don't like them.


[SIZE=12pt]I don't like rolling backpacks because as a teacher they do not fit in lockers, cubbies or anywhere. They are clunky and bulky when you aren't rolling them. Our school doesn't allow them either. Bridget [/SIZE]

 

Saw some today at Gymboree. Also have seen non-character ones in Lillian Vernon catalog.

 

My boys are using the free ones from the book clubs.

I HATE the rolling ones alos. The boy I babysit for has one and someone is ALWAYS tripping over it as he pulls it and he has to play with it while pulling it. It drives me crazy, so I end up carrying the bag and at least one screaming kid. Not fun.

 

I know our preschool didn't allow them. Many preschools have the backpacks hang on hooks in the hallway and the rolling ones don't stay on the hooks. They are also much heavier than a basic preschool backpack. Remember too, that other than holding a change of clothes, preschool backpacks are mostly used for bringing home artwork--which doesn't weigh much.

 

Every so often Target will have toddler-sized backpacks, too. My mom found them there for my girls - they are Jansport brand and solid pink and lavender. The girls love to take their stuff to daycare in them! They are just like the "regular" size backpacks (zippers, outer pockets, even a keychain clip inside), and very durable so far.

 

Wow dd loves the rolling back packs too. It is so much better for their backs too when full to be able to roll them rather than shlep on their backs. She had a cute Barbie one my parents got her for a plane trip to visit them when she was 4. She used it in preschool and K until it finally disintegrated. She wants another rolling one and I am looking at LL bean or I think Gap has one too. The teachers in psch never complained to anyone about them (a few other kids had them too and they commented how cute and helpful they were).

But for the smaller kids, I got dd a Lands End backpack that was perfect size ages 4-7 for my petite little one. I had a horse embroidered on it too. She loved it. But once she needed to bring lunch and snow clothes and homework for 1st grade it was too small. I am hoping to get a rolling backpack with a lunch box that clips on the back. Those are so great!

 

In the hospital I worked in an orthopaedic Dr. told me that those rolling backpacks, when used for school, with books in it etc... ,are harmful for their shoulders and that he had seen more children with shoulder problems since the rolling backpacks than children with back problems from normal ones (and obviously since he is one of the senior Docs he has actually been working for many many more years before the rolling backpacks came into fashion).
I will have normal backpacks on my children (right now they just have little lunchboxes), there are great designs out there that will harm them less.
Millie