Bookbag or a backpack in Y2? What shall I buy?

[Lovefruitsandvegs]

I was thinking of buying my DS a backpack to carry his Y2 workbooks (whatever) plus a lunchbag. Now I think that they still carry their booksbags in the Y2. Is it better to buy the lunchbag only? In Y1 they did not carry much in their bookbags but I have no idea what to expect in Y2.
Thank you for suggestions.

DS had a book bag in Y2 and then rucksack in Y3. DD about to go into Y2 will have a bookbag. Noticed that some in Y2 last year had bookbags and some rucksacks - I don't think it matters

There will be a little more homework and they should have a book either every day or every other day. As at teacher I prefer the children to have book bags as they fit in whatever box we provide for the as opposed to odd sized bags. Usually in KS2 children start to have their own bags more often (book bags do wear out) in KS1 I'd say the majority have book bags. HTH.

Depends on the school. Some schools use the bookbags as a filing system and insist that the children have them. Others don't care as long as they have some sort of bag. Do you know anyone in Yr2 that you could ask?

For what it's worth, at the beginning of Yr2, I bought DD2 a rucksack that was big enough to carry an A4 folder and her lunch bag. For a while she carried the bookbag inside the rucksack, until I established that the teacher really didn't care whether she had it or not.

Rucksacks that are smaller than A4 are a pain when they have folders etc to bring home.

M&S has a nice boys rucksack in grey material, which can be adorned with badges and tailored for whichever fad they are into at the time. DS has one and I expect it to last him throughout primary school.

Though we have had a letter from school saying that they have to have bookbags in Y3 not rucksacks. But DS already had his in Y2 and rides to school, so he's keeping his rucksack.

Where do they keep it at school? If they still have a book bag box, a rucksack won't fit in...he'll have to hang it on his peg, which might be a bit of a pain.

At Ds's school most went to rucksacks in yr2. Does need to take A4. Better for class trips etc too.

Top tip get one with netting bit on outside for drinks bottle - someone else told me and it's worth sharing !

Thank you. I understand that the bookbag is still going to be useful so we will buy him a lunch bag only. Then later we will get him a backpack if the class will have to travel somewhere.

Most kids in my DS's school use book bags until the end of infants and then switch to rucksacks.

Going to check out the M&S one somebody recommended [ grin]

DS is going into yr3.