Yes, April is an odd time to be searching for backpacks. After all, right now most kids are focused on one thing only: summer vacation. But Lola’s birthday is around the corner, and when my mom asked me to choose something for Lola on her behalf, I was stumped. I am trying to keep to rein in the influx of toys, and I wanted to find something special and really useful at the same time. And that’s where the backpack comes in. You see, Lola will be starting kindergarten next year, and her current, preschool-sized backpack, as adorable as it is, has been left at home most of the year because it’s too tiny to bring home her numerous art projects. So, even though she has only attended two years of (pre)school in her life, she has already been through two backpacks.
Lola’s PK3 backpack, called Lola’s Garden from Pookie & Co., is adorable and whimsical and shiny, and so small that it has now been adopted by Eva.
Lola’s current backpack, featuring my favorite Paper Dolls print from Dwell Studio, is bigger than the last, but still too small to hold all her stuff.
Both adorable, both impractical. : (( Now I’d like to find a backpack worthy of a kindergartener. It needs to be beautiful and unique, yes, but also roomy and durable. A tall order, I know. Here are the contenders:
1. Pottery Barn Small Mackenzie Backpack, $39: I love how these backpacks are sized by child. The small is just right for Lola – she is at the bottom of the size range. They are cute enough, and I know the quality is amazing, but I am afraid that everyone at her new school will have these. One plus, though – you can get a matching lunch bag, another item on my list.
2. J. World Rolling Backpack with Lunch Bag, $46.99: Cute and convenient, though the design doesn’t knock my socks off. Also, is it too bulky for a kindergartener? The size falls somewhere between the small and large ones from Pottery Barn.
3. Beatrix Big Kids Backpack, $51.99: The bunny is cute, if a little too season-specific. I do love that it has a matching lunchbox, but I am not sure it is special enough.
4. Crocodile Creek Ballerina Backpack, $27.99: Sweet, and I know the quality will be good, but I’m not thrilled about it. I wish the ballerina was a brunette. : ) I like the Butterfly Garden style a little more, I think.
5. Three Funky Heart Backpack in Peach, $21.99: This is so pretty and feminine, but I am not familiar with the brand and it’s so inexpensive that I have questions about the quality.
Clearly, I am just getting started… I have a few more options to explore tomorrow, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Nada Manley says
Hi Frances,
I got the J. Crew tulle backpack, which, although adorable, is not all that practical. It’s small and has a drawstring top. I also have the Dwell paper dolls one. I don’t think you can go wrong with one of the adorable options from Pottery Barn or Crocodile Creek, so I think those would be safe bets. But for a preschooler, something super cute and little, like the Dwell one or the tulle one, will do just fine, as long as you don’t mind getting a new one in a couple of years! Can’t wait to see what you pick!
Frances Cheda says
So which backpack did you get?? Im looking at the PB preschool backpack right now for my 3 year old. looking forward to your reply 🙂
Nada Manley says
Hi Christy! Soooo good to hear from you! And I am so glad you check out my blog! I always feature lots of girly stuff. I can’t believe you have twin 3 year old girls. How perfect! I have one 3 year old, Eva, and an almost 5 year old, Lola. Okay, now about backpacks. The first two I showed in the blog, and most of the ones designed for preschoolers, seem too small to hold all the three-dimensional artwork they bring home, but if it was too much bigger, I think it would be too big for them to hold. The Dwell one is a decent size for that age, if what you keep in mind that it will hold their papers and maybe a book or two, but not really bulky stuff. It’s a little narrow (flat). I think the preschool version of the PB one looks like a good size – a little wider to accommodate bulkier items, but I don’t put their big art projects in their backpack anyway, because they get ruined. And it seems that every day there is something bulky like that to bring home, so the backpack doesn’t get used as much as it could. Sorry, I’m tired and rambling. I guess I would just say to go for a slightly bigger preschool size one, like the Hanna or Pottery Barn, so it’s not too limiting. Hope that helps!
Anonymous says
Hey Nada–Christy (Marks) Ossi here! We were in AXO together; maybe you remember me. Just wanted to let you know I love your blog (I try to read it when I get a chance) and your post today is coming at a good time since I am shopping for backpacks for my three-year-old twin daughters who will be attending preschool in the fall. So I’m wondering…are you saying that they might need a bigger backpack that the typical preschool ones because of the projects they bring home? Asking you since you have clearly been there. They are my first to go to school and so they are my guinea pigs! Thanks for your help!