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is this bag childish for year 7

317 replies

dinosaursroars · 06/08/2026 12:59

my 11 year old is going to start year 7 next month and he’s recently diagnosed with autism after i said for years and everyone just said well wait and see but he has no ehcp and im worried he’s quiet and sensitive

He has no ehcp because we couldnt sort it in time and m worried about bullying and just everything about starting secondary school his primary only had 30 kids in a class who he was with all day and when going to places like the hall for pe they were always together but hell be pretty much by himself and thay fills me with anxiety

he’s my 3rd going to this school. my eldest i was abit worried as he started in 2020 and he had no transition days or anything but the worry wasn’t this much and my 2nd i wasnt worried at all hes socialable and loud (sometimes mouthy but a good thing because hes not the typical target for bullies if that makes sense) hes is in. year 10 in sept and theyll be going to school by bus together and im worried about this too as ds will have to wait 5 mins for his brother as year 7s finish early

now to the point of the post im looking at backpacks on vinted and this is his choice (pic attached) js this a target for bullying? id like your opinions but also if you have a child going into year 7 or just finished their opinion if possible

my eldest has said why should it matter what bag he wants and bullies will pick on anything if theyre going to which is true but id like him to not be a direct instant target if possible

also just any other advice and things i had loads of advice about my eldest starting college last year and im just feeling overwhelmed and anxious but dont want ds to feel like this so im trtingto hide it

is this bag childish for year 7
OP posts:
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Barethe · 06/08/2026 13:19

too small and too babyish. If he really loves it then can you buy it and have it as his bag for home and then have a plain one for school?

Shatenoeuf · 06/08/2026 13:16

dinosaursroars · 06/08/2026 13:08

this is his other choice he wont budge on anything else right now

his brother has an adidas one going into year 10 (that hes had since i think year 7 or 8) but ds just isnt interested in brands or anything similar this year he had a minecraft bag and that didnt seem a big deal as its primary school he wouldnt carry it about whereas he will and theres also older years that i worry will try and imtimidate him or something

Not really sure why you are showing him small backpacks aimed at younger kids. He can only choose from the options you offer. Show him a selection of bigger bags suitable for teens at secondary.

Anarchy99 · 06/08/2026 13:16

Slightly derailing but how does he feel about being on his own going to classes? I’m only asking because you say it fills you with anxiety.

I was at school in a time when ND wasn’t acknowledged so I wasn’t diagnosed until my 50s but the only way I could cope with school was to be alone as much as possible.

Needmorelego · 06/08/2026 13:13

At the mainstream secondary my daughter started at (she's autistic - later switched to a sen school) that backpack would have been fine.
Having novelty/colourful backpacks was very much the thing.
It was quite an "arty" school though.
It really will depend on the school.

Moonnstarz · 06/08/2026 13:13

I asked about bags and was told it needs to be black, Nike or Adidas.
I think it takes a very confident person to go around with something different and only you will know whether he can pull this off (some kids can and get the admiration from others of not conforming, but I think you need to have the right personality to do this).

ToKittyornottoKitty · 06/08/2026 13:12

dinosaursroars · 06/08/2026 13:08

this is his other choice he wont budge on anything else right now

his brother has an adidas one going into year 10 (that hes had since i think year 7 or 8) but ds just isnt interested in brands or anything similar this year he had a minecraft bag and that didnt seem a big deal as its primary school he wouldnt carry it about whereas he will and theres also older years that i worry will try and imtimidate him or something

He needs to budge to a bag that’s big enough and sturdy enough though. It doesn’t have to be branded, but I’d get a new decent size bag that won’t break in the first week, that’d just make him sad anyway

WhiskTaker · 06/08/2026 13:10

I work in a secondary school. I would steer him away from that choice.

Fransgran · 06/08/2026 13:09

One of my young relatives, nearly 11, has always been one for cute backpacks. She announced last year that going forward she needed a plain coloured one as "that's what everyone is getting." So it was! Mind you, apparently it's ok to affix certain patches and have multiple things dangling from the plain coloured backpacks , all are blue or black.

Sartre · 06/08/2026 13:09

He needs a bigger backpack, they carry A4 size books around all day. Plain black is best.

Sartre · 06/08/2026 13:08

Yes it’s too babyish and yes he will be bullied. It’s also too small. It looks perfect for a child in year 4/5 max.

dinosaursroars · 06/08/2026 13:08

this is his other choice he wont budge on anything else right now

his brother has an adidas one going into year 10 (that hes had since i think year 7 or 8) but ds just isnt interested in brands or anything similar this year he had a minecraft bag and that didnt seem a big deal as its primary school he wouldnt carry it about whereas he will and theres also older years that i worry will try and imtimidate him or something

is this bag childish for year 7
OP posts:
Figgygal · 06/08/2026 13:07

Unfortunately yes it's too young and too small
Black Nike or under armour are safe options

TropicalFishAreTwats · 06/08/2026 13:04

In my personal opinion, yes, it is very childish for year 7. Most boys will have plain Nike/Adidas backpacks (or other branded items depending on the demographic of your area, Superdry is still popular around here but social suicide in other locations!).
What backpack does your eldest have? Ask him what his friends have, I agree it shouldn't matter but at that age, in a new school it does so he needs to help a little.

Sinkysocks · 06/08/2026 13:04

It’s too small for a start. Surely he needs something bigger? Can he use an old one for the first weeks then choose once he’s seen what everyone else has?

Shesafancyflapjack · 06/08/2026 13:03

Although I would love to say he can and should have whatever bag he wants, I do think it’s a bit young, plain black adidas or sport backpack would be better. Kids are dicks, sorry

Hankunamatata · 06/08/2026 13:02

I would go for plain Nike backpack to start if im honest or whatever backpack most people have. (Seem to be bag choice around here)

Mine have additional needs and didnt want them standing out or being known ad the weird kid on first day. Cowardly I know but mine wouldnt have had the reliance to style it out.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 06/08/2026 13:02

To be honest it looks too small for a high school bag. I’d let him choose a design he liked but you need a sturdy decent size bag for all the books and kit

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