What size school bag will I need to buy and where will I get a decent one?

[Flier]

I've been looking for a decent school bag for DS who will be starting primary 1 in August, but I can't see anything anywhere.
Where, oh wise mumsnetters, should I be looking, either online or in store?

does he need one?

dd's just use a book bag from the school.

He shouldn't be carrying heavy weights at that age, so a simple fashion backpack froma sports superstore will be fine. They often cost less than £10. It is helpful if they can take A4, but as Misdee says, they will also have their bookbag.

Ds1 only has a book bag and a little cheap pe kit bag.

we were told to get quite a big one that will carry homework, packed lunch, pe kit etc. Do you all have a separate pe kit bag that is left on school each week?

I do, yes, it gets sent home as and when - but they only do pe twice a week, and it's no mor vigorous than ds's day to day life!

I send lunch in a lunch bag, Pe in a pe bag and any homework gets sent home in the book bag, which was about £3.50 but will probably be more at your school, as ours seems to be cheap!

yes, pe kit is left at school.

first day back each term/half term means they cart loads in the rest of the time, barely anything.

book bag, water bottle and fruit.

poeople who take packed lunches carry those seperatly and leave them onm the trollies which are then taken to the dining room.

ok thanks all, will just go for one of the ones I've seen then, sound like will do the job.

The PE kit only comes home once every half term???

yes,

5 year olds dont sweat muhc, and they tned to do yoga and much of their running about actually in their school uniform.

Don't they get covered in mud?

Um, no, not in a school hall - this is four and five year olds here, the teachers don't take them outside if it's raining, the classroom would be awash.

no. its done in the hall.

dd1 sometimes get a bit muddy if she is doing cross country but she is in juniors now so her pe kits gets washed more.

I keep forgetting that state schools don't do proper games.

What's wrong with a bit of rain?

PE is usually done in the hall, or outside on the field in nice weather. Even then, they tend to do simple ball exercises and skipping etc. No muddy rugby matches or anything like that.
So PE kit can easiy stay at school and only come home at half term.

Re school bag, we have the school book bag. For their reading book, reading diary and so they can bring home any letters from school.

Lunch gets carried in a lunchbag which goes onto a separate shelf once inside school.

nothign wrong with rain the reception class have an outdoor area to their classroom and its used in all weathers. they even supply brollies.

Will they dissolve if they don't have an umbrella?

they're 4. your child might behave appropriately and not jump in puddles or throw mud but often mine wouldn't. Many wouldn't. I don't blame the teachers for not taking the risk.

they do proper games when they are capable of reliably remembering how to play them and not bursting into tears when they lose.

not they wont. but they are there if the kids want them. i make sure mine have the right clothes for the weather, including wellies and raincoats.

some kids don like to get too wet though, so brollies are there if they want them.

mine are perfectly happy grubbing about in mud.

yourself!

what counts as proper games?

dd1 has done tennis, lacrosse, cross country, netball, gym, yoga and loads of other stuff at her school.

are they proper games?

Squakypop, it's nothing to do with sport at state schools.

Dd is at a pre-prep school and there PE kit only comes home every half term.

In winter they do gym/dance and games in the hall and in summer they do athletics on the field. Even when they do games outside they don't get mucky at that age.

She too nly has a bookbag and separate PE bag.

Games = competitive football, rugby and cricket for boys (matches on Wednesdays, training the other four days, come rain or shine).

When my boys were in prep school their kits practically walked themselves into the washing machine on a Friday afternoon.

can't see the necessity for 4 year olds to be doing such serious competitive sport. Can they even remember which side they're on?

Ds1 had an outdoor area in his reception playground too, with a sandpit and tricycles. He lovd it but he is leaving it behind this year to go into the ridiculously big playground.

They love getting stuck in! Doesn't matter much which side they are on. The key thing is that they are getting 2 hours or exercise everyday, and learning how to work as a team.

Work hard. Play hard.