Back to School - Backpacks, Lunch Boxes, Jackets Etc.

I buy mine at Walgreens when they are $5. Then I buy twice as many as I need and then I don't feel bad when they break down...and at the end of last year I had only replaced one back pack and I will use the rest for this year. I have 4 kids (three in school) and my girls are worse on their back packs then my son is with his. He is still using the same one and this will be is third year, where as my oldest (now starting 7th grade) as gone through the most at two every year. And my now 4th grader uses one a year. By the end there are holes from her dragging the bag. I like quality for me, but when it comes to my kids...they ruin quality just as fast as cheap...so why spend that much money on them!

I would also recommend Lands End or LL Bean backpacks. My kids aren't too hard on their backpacks, but the nice thing about these companies is they stand behind their products. If the backpacks don't hold up for what you would consider is a reasonable amount of time, they'll exchange it for a new one. I've also had really good luck with Jansport backpacks from REI, I've had them for at least 10+ years. Once a zipper broke on a 4 year old Jansport backpack and I took it to REI to have the zipper repaired. They sent it to Jansport and instead of fixing it Jansport sent me a brand new bag. Good luck!

The other ladies have great advice on getting organized and letting your kids know the cost of thinkgs. My kids have only 1 winter coat, if they leave it at school, they do without the next morning. I have also reminded them how much things like mittens and hats cost, they usually only go missing for a day or so, it's no fun to sit in the house and watch everyone else snowshoe, sled, or build a snowman.

As for backpacks, all 3 of mine have Land's End packs, you can often get $5 off and/or free shipping this time of year. I don't have their fanciest models, I want to say I spent about $25 each for them 2 years ago, and they are holding up well. The kids would love to have new backpacks, but they don't need them, yet!

someone probably already mentioned this, but Jansport has a limetime guarantee. If seams pop, zippers break, fabric tears they replace it, free. That being said you have to send it them to get it replaced. So I would get one for each of your boys plus either one extra (for when you need to send one in) or a cheapers extra or two, just in case. As far as lunch boxes go, skip them. Brown bags work well and are meant to be thrown away. That could easily save you $30 in potentially lost stuff, and thats just considering ONE lunch box per kid.

D.,

I hear you. We had a period of forgetfulness about jackets at one time. Here's a thought. If your boys get an allowance, make them replace the item with their own money. They will quickly learn to remember their things. They probably don't feel any consequence when it is replaced for them. If you don't do any kind of allowance, they can still repay you with chores. You can say, "It really drains my energy to have to go and buy a new lunchbox, but you can replace that energy by cleaning the bathroom." This is an idea taught by Dr. Charles Fay and Jim Fay of "Parenting with Love and Logic." I find their stuff very helpful. Good luck!

C. Hoffman, mom of two boys 11 and 9
www.EmbraceLifeParenting.com

As far as backpacks, I agree with Rosie T.! Jansport guarantees their backpacks. They have replaced zippers free of charge for me.

I like to go to REI or another sports store to get backpacks. They just seem to last longer than the Target and Wal-Mart brands.

As for getting stuff back. LABEL, LABEL, LABEL!!! I work in the front office of my kids school and the lost and found is out of control. We can get stuff back to the right classrooms if we just know the kids names.

Maybe I didn't understand you right, but Land's End backpacks aren't girly. And they really are good quality. I don't know about the zippers, because that wasn't a particularly vulnerable part for me. But when I was in middle school, they were THE THING to have (man, that school was really into material things!) so my mom bought me one. I think I used that thing for 4 years and just got tired of it, never wore it out.

As for getting your things home, I think you're going to have to rely on your your kids. Make a goal with them, use a chart with a reward, whatever. And tell them that if that doesn't work, they'll have to go without. A chilly day without a jacket, or a few days having to take their lunch in a Walmart back (I'm guessing that's uncool) will probably cure that!

I had this issue with remembering stuff for my kindergardener last year. I remember asking his teacher for suggestions. She helped remind him to put everything back in his pack after he was done with it. Then my husband and I got better at asking him when we picked him up if he had everything he brought to school. My son has a land's end pack which I think will last him a second year (we are now entering 1st grade).

It sounds like your boys are older than mine, so perhaps you can have more serious consequences for forgetting things.... If they don't bring the water bottle home, they don't get a new one the next day. Make them search through the lost and found for missing jackets and hats and whatever... If they forget their lunch box (and have to buy lunch at school until they bring it home), make them pay for it on their own (schools don't let them miss lunch... so maybe if it cuts into their allowance it may help them remember). Have you thought of using paper lunch bags instead of a lunch box (that doesn't necessarily need to come home daily) and they are fairly cheap? Would it help if the boys had a list of what they brought to school, so they could check that they had everything in their pack when you pick them up?

Also, if you do things from home and need to bring along stuff, work with them on remembering what needs to go. For example, if you're going to the park and usually you pack the sunscreen, water bottles and snacks, make them do this and bring it and carry it... it just may help them start remembering stuff that is necessary and/or important to them.

I hope this helps.... I think remembering is a skill that needs to be learned, so help them learn it.

Jennifer

Well, I haven't been there with a child yet, but I do have an absent-minded husband, who used to "forget" or "lose" his lunch sack, containers, etc. I finally bought EXPENSIVE Tupperware, and told him the price, and this motivated him. We have all the containers that I bought eight months ago.

I guess what I'm saying is that I agree with Elena in the approach of letting them know the financial side of things. I think they are certainly old enough to understand the cost aspect of things. Good luck.

Have a basket or cubby or even just a plastic dishpan for each boy. Choose different colors for each boy, and label them well in permanent marker. When each boy comes home from school, every lunch box, water bottle, hat, coat, a paper that needs to be signed, etc. goes in the proper basket. You will know exactly who brought what home. And who didn't. And in the evenings, pack the basket with each boy's supplies for the following day: coats, a filled water bottle with ice in it, the permission slips, project or notebook, backpack, etc. (everything but the lunch box if the food needs to stay cold). Teach the boys the system: prepare the basket in the evening, take everything out in the morning on the way to the bus, and return everything immediately after school. Review the plan and the consequences and the reasons (expenses, being responsible and trusted, etc) for the new plan. Some kids are very visual, and you can post the rules and the system on a whiteboard or posterboard above the baskets. Get the boys involved. Have them print out the rules and decide the consequences for failing to adhere to the system.

Make consequences. Say "Johnny, I notice your basket is missing _______ (bottle, backpack, hat, whatever)" or "you didn't return your things to your basket. Instead you dropped them on the floor or scattered your things everywhere. You will have this punishment as a consequence for not taking care of your responsibilities:__________ " (and then make the punishment fit the crime. Make him clean the bathroom or pick up all the Legos or wash the dishes or clean the oven -- some chore that reflects caring for our belongings. That's a first offense. Second or third offenses can mean loss of tv or video games, or something that means a lot to him.

And don't be afraid to tell them the cost of a new coat or replacement backpack. Maybe give them each $25 dollars or so and have them shop for their own supplies from their school lists. They might be horrified at how much stuff costs!

I made my son sign a contract when I purchased something expensive for school. I was ok with a particular backpack, but he wanted a "cooler" one that of course was more expensive. But he had lost one not long before. So we wrote out a personal contract. We noted the price of the backpack of his choice, and stapled the receipt to our contract. The deal was, and we put this in clear language on the contract, if he kept it for the school year and didn't lose it or destroy it (other than normal wear and tear and scuffs, of course), I would pay for it. If he lost it or ripped it due to carelessness, he would have to fork over the entire price of the backpack. I did that for an expensive calculator too. And I laminated the contract that we both signed, and posted it. He didn't lose his backpack or calculator! I duplicated the contract and kept one by his desk, one in his notebook and one in the kitchen near the calendar.

My son's backpack from Children's Place is now on its second year, although we had to get another one for my daughter this year and my older son. As for the belongings - I have a 2nd, 3rd & 7th grader and they pack their lunches on their own now - knowing what needs to be in there according to mom! They have cold packs, which don't always make it back into the freezer after things are put away in the cupboard the day before. It simply means they don't get one that day and they hate that! They also hate taking a brown or plastic sack, but if they leave their lunch box at school, that's what happens. Or they have to eat school lunch, which it may not be something they like... We also have hooks by the door for their coats and backpacks, which get packed the night before - I don't sign anything in the morning. We also have a shoe, hat, scarf, etc.. rack by the door. They get ready in 30 minutes and that includes taking care of animals - they really do a good job. Be consistent with whatever you decide to do. If my guys loose something, they have to earn money by doing extra chores to get a new one since it was before its time to do so. Good luck!!!

I write names in everything w/a Sharpie. I'm the one who packs all of their stuff though, so I know what goes to school & what should come home. Schools around here have started sending home folders w/school work, teacher notes, etc-maybe you could stick a note in there reminding them to bring home water bottle, lunch bag/box, jackets, hats, etc. If something doesn't come home, I remind them to bring it home the next day. If that doesn't work, I go looking in the lost & found. Another option would be to buy outrageous colors so nobody can forget they belong to your kids-and they will be able to easily find them in a pile. Hats & gloves-I buy the cheap stretchy Walmart stuff at the end of the season. Inevitably we'll end up missing a glove or a hat, but since I rarely pay more than $1 for each, it's not as painful of a loss. Or you could go w/the "wow, that sucks, I guess you don't have any school gloves now" & explain to the teacher that you're working on responsibility & it's theirs to police up their stuff.
Maybe it would be easiest to have everyone pack their stuff the night before-water bottle & lunch in the fridge to keep cool, everything else together in a pile. Make a mental note of what's going w/each kid.
I had an Eastland backpack that lasted me a year of college-except in the winter I walked a mile to & from home w/a full pack. My only problem was that one of the strap adjusters broke. I knotted it back together & I've still got it-it holds ponchos & life jackets or snow pants, depending on the season. Maybe you should look into buying a metal zipper backpack for each kid-those are harder to ruin. Or a drawstring at the top & avoid the zipper altogether. I'd look at military surplus stores. Even if you find just plain black, you could buy patches at any craft store (or let them earn them) to jazz them up & personalize them for each kid.
Thanks for the good luck-we started today-and good luck to you!

I don't know anything about Land's End back packs buy I do know of
a good brand to try out. Jansport. This brand has a life limited warranty I think. At retail, they can be costly but you can usually find them on sale at places like Ross or TJ Maxx. Hope this helps.

Checklists work great:) It can be put in one of the pockets of the backpacks and you/your boys can make sure that everything is accounted for when you pick them up.
Good luck!

The most durable backpack we've had is Jansport, and believe me my son can destroy a backpack like nobody's business! Costco has them every summer in preparation for school. They are reasonably priced - can't remember, but between $12-19?? The only downside is their lack of selection in colors/design. They have 3-4 to choose from, and usually one or two are pink or some other girly color. I also discovered last year that one of my son's classmates had the same exact backpack, and they kept getting them confused. I ended up sewing a patch of fabric (a cool motorcycle) onto the front, and of course wrote his name in sharpie on it. My husband has a Jansport backpack that he still uses for his ski stuff from 1986! Ironically, we were just talking about it this morning.

I am sure that the Land's End backpacks are good too, but they are not cheap. You would have a better selection in colors/styles for sure. My friend's son got one monogrammed from grandparents one fall, and I'm pretty sure he had it for most of the school year, but it was pretty thrashed (still functioning, just dirty/ratty) by the last 3rd of the year.

I think either brand would work well, just a cost/design difference IMO. We've been lucky lately. DH got a couple free-bee backpacks through his work and one from a motorcycle ride he did. I've just started using those for summer camp, and will continue through the school year. They have silly logos/brands on them, but DS doesn't care. ;)

Another vote for Lands End packs; you won't be disappointed. They will last for years (if they don't get lost!) If you can, next time around, shop for them off season or in their Overstock section to get them for more than 50% off.

I agree with your friend. Land's End and L.L. B. are my favorites. As for making sure everything returns home from school? Good luck! Our policy is "if you lose it, you won't have it!" I refuse to buy additional items when someone leaves it at school. After a couple of days they usually find the lost/forgotten item. However, until it returns, they have to make-do. If that means they can't take a ham sandwich because they lost the lunch bag with the ice pack, then they will have to take peanut butter in a paper bag. The only thing that didn't eventually return was the zip-off hood of my son's new coat. Apparently his friend took it home and the mom didn't know where it came from so she tossed it. arg!

I had the same problem with zippers on backpacks breaking when I was going to University. I finally started buying daypacks in the camping and sporting goods section of the store and they actually would last 2 years before having to be mended. The straps would come off about then, but that is a lot easier fix than replacing a zipper. A lot of times it is the same brands but since they are actually designed to carry stuff on a day hike they are made with heavier material, and the the zippers are reinforced.

T.

I have found that LL Bean and Jansport are tne best for our boys. My husbands LL Bean lasted through his mission and college and he is still using it 3 years later. My Jansport lasted me through college and I am currently still using it 4 years after college. If you want to personalise them you can always sew on patches and things like that.