The most expensive and important item on the back-to-school shopping list is your child’s school backpack. Finding the right backpack is as important as finding the right sneakers for gym.
Your child’s back health is at stake when you shop for a back-to-school backpack. For elementary to middle school aged children, the Lands’ End FeatherLight Backpack is light on the back and on the wallet.
JanSport offers the Big Student backpack at a comparable price. The JanSport Big Student backpack holds a lot, is also affordable, and teens love the patterned selections.
A bit out of the ordinary but good for the back is the BackTpack. BackTpack has an endorsement from the American Physical Therapy Association. It is two bags harnessed over each of the wearer’s shoulders. This is for the teen who cares more about their back then what their backpack looks like.
Last year, Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine recommended that parents stay away from novelty backpacks (character licensed backpacks, more for looks). Novelty backpacks fail durability tests and while the price tag is nice, they typically do not last out the first week or few months of school.
Make sure you have an idea of what your school is looking for in a backpack. They usually stipulate that backpacks with the handles and wheels are not allowed. Some schools may have additional criteria on what you should or shouldn’t buy when it comes to a backpack
The best backpacks are lightweight, include two wide padded shoulder straps, padding between the wearer and the pack and a waist strap to keep the pack stabilized.
In addition to selecting the right backpack, it is important to teach your kids how to properly pack it. A backpack should weigh 10% to 15% of the wearer’s weight. So if your child is 100 pounds, their backpack should weigh between 10 to 15 pounds. How that weight is distributed within the backpack is important as well. Pack heavy items closest to the body and place lighter items further out.
Additional recommended reading when preparing kids for school:
Children’s clothing recommends the following books to help parents save money on their kids clothes. Back-to-school shopping can be expensive and sometimes disappointing to some kids who can’t buy all the clothes and accessories they want. These books offer affordable alternatives to buying everything new. They offer crafty solutions to inspire individuality in a child or teen’s wardrobe.
If you’ve created something new from something old, we’d love to hear your ideas. Contact us today.
Children’s clothing is probably the biggest expenditure on a parent’s back-to-school shopping list. Summer, like spring and fall is a time to do inventory of kids clothing.
Review children’s clothes and shoes on hand
Find out what can be used by one or another of your children in the next year. What can’t be used should be donated or given away, swapped with another relative or mom, or tossed if beyond repair. Save an old oversize shirt for use as a smock for art class.
Note children’s clothing needs
Start with a list of what they have, and in what color, include a note on solids and prints. Then make a note of children’s clothing sizes and favorite colors. Does your daughter hate pink this year? Or your son hate stripes? Get their input on likes and dislikes. Explain to them what they need to buy to match up to what they have in their clothes closet.
Consider your school’s dress code
Many schools have a dress code that include notes on appropriate school attire from t-shirts to footwear. It is very important to review this list with your child so they avoid the tendency to shop for items that they can only wear when they are not in school. Since the majority of their time is spent in school, the majority of your clothing allowance should be applied to appropriate attire.
Highlight the back-to-school must haves
Consider your budget before you go out shopping for kids clothes. Shopping for back-to-school clothes does not have to break the bank. Review the list and highlight items that are needed when school starts. A backpack and school supplies are at the top of the list followed by shoes, gym attire and what items you need to make due with what is already in your child’s closet. Save the remainder of the list for shopping in the coming weeks after school starts. Save winter items for a few months into the school year so you can catch deals on winter sales (coats, jackets, boots, hats, scarves and gloves).
Remember to stock up on the little things
Underwear, socks, bras and t-shirts are something a child is going to wear everyday, sometimes twice a day if they are into sports or regularly change between activities. 10 or more of each is a good guide. If your child likes socks that match, always buy 2 pairs of every color so if one is lost you have at least three to work with. Miss-matched socks in sets of three are available for those that don’t care but to forego the expense of someone else selling miss-matched socks, it is a good bet in a few months you’ll have your own designer set of crazy socks.
Purchase items that compliment layering
Whether or not winter comes to your locale, it is possible that temperatures may change from classroom to classroom. Layering is recommended when you send your child out to school. They should be able to cool down or warm up as necessary. A dozen t-shirts and about 5 sweatshirts and hoodies should suffice with 5 pairs of jeans. Preschool and elementary age children may need more items due to wear and tear.
Share your list with family
For the holidays, there are always requests on what size your child wears or what store your older children like to shop at. This is a perfect time to share sizes of your children, their likes and dislikes, or their favorite stores they shopped at recently for clothes. Aunts, uncles and grandparents will appreciate this if they regularly shop for your children.