A typical elementary school girl has unique needs and desires when it comes to back to school shopping. She has certain tastes and requirements that make purchasing her supplies very distinct. Buying a backpack for her is no exception. There are many varieties to choose from but only one that will suit her well. Let me give you a few pointers for making this all important purchase.
A Good Fit
Always have her try on a potential backpack. Not all school bags are created equal and she will need one that is perfectly sized. A back pack that is too large can be dangerously overloaded putting too much strain on her growing back. When finding the right fit makes sure that the shoulder straps are not spaced too far apart or are too long. The weight of the pack should be centered on her back well above her waistline. Cornwell University offers a backpack posture guide and tips to a good backpack fit.
The Right Design
Girls are organizers. Your student’s backpack should offer enough compartments and pockets for her to arrange all of her school supplies and personal items. There are backpacks which feature multiple accessory pockets for items such as cellphones, water bottles, and MP3 players along with places for pencils, scissors, calculators, and the other traditional school supplies.
Backpack shoppers these days have a wide variety of designs from which to choose. From fleece-lined valuables pockets to removable pencil holders. Some backpacks even come with a detachable matching lunchbox such as this one from Dakine.
A Superb Style
Since the backpack will be one of the most important purchases you will make for your elementary age school girl, it should certainly be pleasing to her sense of style. Young girls enjoy character backpacks as well as those that are beautifully and brightly colored. Very feminine styles are usually the top picks for little girls.
Some can be personalized with the girl’s name like this one from the Pottery Barn and some are already personal for other reasons such as this one featuring Hebrew letters. Let your student express her true style in her backpack choice and she will be a very happy school girl.
Now I will share my favorite schoolgirl pick for the 2010 – 2011 school year. This girl’s backpack from The Children’s Place has all the best qualities for a good fit, functionality, and personalization. It even has reflective trim for safety. At only around $15 this one has my vote.
Also check out my article Buying the Right Backpack for an Elementary Aged School Boy. You will find more useful tips not mentioned here.
