Choosing the Best Backpack for a First Grader

Children going back to school have a lot on their minds. Many are nervous about showing up with the right clothes and accessories. The right backpack not only has to be in style, but be functional. It is tough to be cool with a broken backpack strap, or a wonky wheel on a rolling backpack.

Know your child
They may be tiny, but a six-year-old can be just as worried about fitting in as a sixteen-year-old. When choosing a first backpack for an elementary school child, one thing to keep in mind is the quickly changing styles. Just because they play with Bratz dolls or watch Dora at home, does not necessarily mean they want to advertise this on their back. Some may, others would be horrified. It is best to look for a backpack together in order to get it right the first time.

With that said, if your daughter likes Bratz, she'll love the Funky Bratz backpack, complete with a detachable jean chain. Full-size, this blue backpack measures 12 by 15 inches.

Size it right
The general rule is that a child's loaded backpack should not weigh more than 15 percent of their body weight. This means an 80-pound child should not carry a backpack that weighs more than 12 pounds. If the fabric and extra features make it heavy when empty, then you are starting from a disadvantage.

The Olympia Academy Mini backpack is a great lightweight backpack. It's made of poly rip-stop fabric and comes in pink, blue and yellow.

Another extra lightweight backpack is the Kelty K.I.D.S Lark backpack. It's made of Kodra nylon, and weighs only 1.20 pounds when empty. Despite how light it is, there are a lot of unique features, like side mesh pockets for a water bottle and a front pouch to carry a lunch without squishing a sandwich.

Long lasting
Look for a backpack that will last throughout the year; if you can find one that will take your child from one grade to the next, all the better. Even if the child does not take it back to school the next year, a sturdy bag is always handy to have on hand.

L.L. Bean is known for the quality of their products, as they are truly made to last and last. Their rugged L.L. Bean Original Jr. backpack is smaller than most, making it perfect for the littlest first graders.

Room for everything
Do not be deceived--first-graders have a surprising amount of gear to manage. Be sure when purchasing a backpack that their largest item easily slips inside. No matter what style you choose, check to see if the child can take their binder in and out with ease. Encourage them to clean out their backpack every night after school so that only essentials are kept inside. This step will only take a few minutes, but can do a lot for instilling important organization skills, not to mention keep the backpack smelling nice!