backpack Archives - JDaniel4s Mom

Free Printables Backpack Checklists

July 29, 2015 By Deirdre

Last year I wrote a series of Back to School posts. There was one post that shared chore charts for before school, after school, and before bedtime. Then there was post of tips for choosing kids backpacks. Another post shared a backpack checklist. The list contained things that children need to remember to take to school everyday. Recently Happy Hooligans shared a link to the backpack checklist on her Facebook page. A number of her followers asked if I would create a “Going Home” checklist for backpacks. I thought it was an amazing idea!

Last year my son and I did have to leave car line, park the car and go into his classroom to get something that he forgot to bring home. It makes so much sense to have a “Going Home” checklist on the back of the “Going to School” checklist.

I tried to think of everything a child might leave at school. Then I asked some friends what their children leave behind at school. What I learned was that a lot of us have very specific things that need to be brought home everyday.

The items that made it on the “Going Home” checklist are pretty generic. Homework related items like a homework folder, agenda, or calendar were just listed at homework notebook. Rather than list all the types of books that kids could bring home I placed books needed for homework is on the list. Lunch items could have been broken down too. I went with lunch box and ice pack due to the fact that many of us send those to school. If your children need to bring home a thermos or utensils, I decided you could put then beside one of blanks beside the word the other on the list. A short list of clothes that you wear to keep warm were all listed together. (Coats, sweaters, and sweatshirts seemed to things my son and my friend’s children left behind.) Mittens, hats, and umbrellas also seemed to be a popular item to have children leave at school. I decide the free printables list needed to include them.

What could be placed on the “Other” blanks? Here are some things I thought of or that friend’s shared. I bet you have special things that you will want to add too.

Reading book log
Drink bottle
Scarf
P.E. clothes
Swim gear
Raincoat
Musical instrument
Library book
Show and Tell item

One of the important items that was mentioned by friends that I didn’t list was your children’s backpack. Without the backpack you will be missing everything you need to have come home. I don’t think they are the only parent that has had to go back to school to get the backpack that didn’t make it home.

Last year’s backpack checklist is still available. I did make two new checklists. The first one looks just like last year’s backpack checklist, but now says “Going to School”. Then there is the “Going Home” checklist. The Backpack Checklist are available for you on a PDF. You can print out copies of both lists and laminate them back to back.

With a reminder to check their backpack list everyday before they leave school I am hoping kids won’t forget the things they need in their backpacks this year. Let me know if you try these free printables backpack checklists. I would love to know how they worked for you.

{Free Printable} Checklist for Kids Backpacks

August 12, 2014 By Deirdre

Yesterday I shared with you tips for selecting kids backpacks. Today I want to share with you a free printable I created to help insure that kids backpacks have everything that they need in them when your children head to school every morning. Two amazing things about this printable copy of the Backpack Checklist are that it can be attached to your kid’s backpacks and that it includes all the major items that need to be in their backpacks.

Wait! You may be thinking I don’t need all of these things in my kids backpacks. They really need to have x,y, and z in their backpacks instead. That maybe true. Rather than create a list that would just work for my son or one that was really long and includes tons of items I tried to keep this list pretty general. I didn’t list the things that will go into his backpack from time to time. There are probably some things like a jacket or extra clothes that may be in my son’s backpack during the year. I did create a space to write in an additional item space for those times or for an item I might have left off.

Using the Checklist for Kids Backpacks

Placing it on your kids backpack

I am simply going to hang the backpack checklist onto my son’s backpack. For right now I am using a metal ring that I threaded through a hole punched into the top of the backpack checklist. Before hanging it on the metal ring I did laminate the checklist. You could easily put the kids backpack checklist in a luggage tag to keep it clean and tear free and then attach the luggage tag to your children’s backpack. We didn’t have one at home so, I went ahead and laminated the checklist. I think it will stay clean and tear free this way too.

To Check or Not to Check

We may actually put check marks in the boxes beside each of the items for awhile at the beginning of school and again later after school breaks. Once we get into the school year, we will probably just run down the list together. If you have an older child or a very independent mature child who would like to run down the checklist on their own that is great.

Using the Checklist After School

The kids backpack checklist can be used when you are unpacking too. You or your kids can quickly empty their backpacks in the order listed on the checklist to make sure they have brought everything back home (except notes and money that you have sent in.).

Here is a printable copy of the backpack checklist. You can click on the backpack checklist link to the left or the one above. The printable contains four backpack checklists. You can use them for your kids backpacks or you can give some to a friend.

This post is part of a Back to School series I am running this summer. Here are some of the other posts in this series:

12 Back to School Clothing Shopping Tips

Back to School Picture No-Nos

Tips for Selecting Kids Backpacks

Update

After sharing this wonderful checklist, I was asked to create a backpack checklist that could be used for going home from school. I recently have created the “Going Home” checklist. Now there are two backpack checklists available that you can laminate back to back. (You can select the one that you feel your child needs most instead of having one on the front and one on the back if you like.) Both the “Going to School” and a “Going Home” checklist are on the same Free Printables Backpack Checklists PDF document to download on the Free Printables Backpack Checklists post.

Tips for Choosing Kids Backpacks

August 11, 2014 By Deirdre

When it comes to choosing the right kids backpacks, the sheer number of backpacks on the market may make it seem overwhelming. It seems like there are backpacks available in zillions of colors and styles. Before you head out with your children to select a backpack there are seven tips that I would like to offer you.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip One- Durability

Some kids backpacks just aren’t made to last past the first quarter of school. They are made of flimsy fabric that just can’t handle the rough and tumble life a backpack can lead. Kids need a backpack that can handle being tossed into the backseat. They also need a backpack whose seams can handle the pressure of heavy objects like books being pulled by gravity downward.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Two- School Rules

At my school the kindergartners are given string bag backpack to use so, they don’t need to bring in a backpack. Other schools have rules that state that kids backpacks can’t have wheels. I am not sure why they have those rules, but they do. You will want to check with your school to see if they have any backpack guidelines before buying your kids backpacks.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Three- Straps

Kids backpacks can have straps that start in various places on the back of the pack. Some backpacks offer a waist strap that will make carrying those heavy books and notebooks home from school. It is totally worth having your child try on a backpack to see how it feels on their backs.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Four- Number of Compartments

Kids love compartments in backpacks. Zippered and snapped areas, places for a thermos, and small items that make them seem really cool. I believe it is possible to have too many compartments. While we tried to keep everything in the main compartment of my son’s backpack last year, there were a few times that he couldn’t figure out where something was.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Five- Clean-Ability

Things happen both inside and outside a backpack that leads to them needing to be cleaned. If your kids’ backpacks might accidentally be placed near a puddle of mud while they wait in car line, you may want to have a backpack that is easy to clean. I tend to pick backpacks that can be placed in the washer. They look and smell so much better after being washed.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Six- Size Matters

When you think about all the things your children are going to need to carry to school, will they fit in the backpack you have selected? It is so important to think about size while choosing a backpack. We had to move to the next size of backpack after hearing one of JDaniel’s teachers describing what he was going to need to carry home every day. We needed a backpack that was big enough to carry his lunch and school items, but we didn’t need a supersize kids backpack that would hit his legs when he wore it. Finding the right backpack for a kindergartner can be tricky. Once again trying on a backpack was key to making the right selection.

Choosing Kids Backpacks Tip Seven- Cost

Just as size matters so does cost. There are wonderful backpacks available at almost every price point. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find a really nice one.

Notice that I didn’t mention color, characters, glitz, of fun elements that can be used to decorate a kids backpack. Kids will know what they just love and have to have. They are all kinds of style options and while they are important I think looking for the seven elements are more important.

I really want my son to have a backpack that will make it through this year and maybe even into the next. If that is what you are looking for too, I hope you will follow the tips I shared above.