Is this too ‘babyish’ for secondary school?

[Snacktastic]

My DD is starting secondary school in September. We were browsing backpacks over the weekend. She’s absolutely loves this Jansport one. (Photo attached but may take a moment to approve). Is it going to be too young for secondary/ will she be teased for having a flowery bag?
Most of the secondary children I’ve seen have black backpacks, I’ve seen Nike etc which I’ve suggested but she doesn’t want plain black. If this is too young for secondary, I may have to tell her a white lie and that the uniform policy says it has to be a block colour!

It’s lovely but I suspect she might ditch it quite quickly after starting school tbh.

Do you think that would be due to teasing or just as she might want something plainer as she gets older?
She has her heart set on it, but I’m very worried it’ll cause teasing, but then I wonder if I’m over-worrying as it’s not cartoony.

Secondary teacher here! Jansport backpacks would be grand here - no one would bat an eyelid at that, especially as it’s branded.

Buy it for weekend use...kids target anything that's different.

I don’t think it’s babyish but it’s very possible that she’ll be influenced by what others are carrying and want the same. For example if her friends carry totes then she might want the same.

Teacher here - this is great. Better than the stupid oversized handbags we have banned for next academic year

I overthought absolutely everything to do with school supplies this time last year - when my daughter was on the verge of leaving year 6.
since September we’ve gone from a plain black Vans rucksack, to a handbag (🙄), to her old Nike primary school rucksack.
Now we’re at the tail end of the year, I can honestly say that I’m no longer concerned. There’s so many different kids with different styles, it would take some bag for her to stand out.

I imagine it will depend if she’s a popular, trend-setter kind of child or not. If she is then it won’t matter what she takes as other kids will either not care or will want one too. If not then she may find it is commented on. I don’t think it’s babyish though, just not what most kids take.

It’s a strange thing because my DD generally does not conform, she’s not a girly girl, wears what she likes generally, does the activities that interest her rather than following her friends…but…. She was very determined she just wanted a plain black non-descrip backpack like everyone else when she started secondary school. The all have very plain, very simple black backpacks. Not sure if that will continue into year 8 or if personalities will be on display again, but for now conformity is the driver.

If she has her heart set on it, maybe you could let her get it. As long as you don’t mind potentially buying her something different after half a term. Tbh I’m possibly not best placed to advise as our school have compulsory school branded backpacks. But my daughter in 6th form uses a plain black Eastpak backpack.

Since she wants it, i'd get it x

Can I suggest she starts school with any old spare bag....then decides after the first week what she would like, based on what others have? Most Y7s find it important to "fit in" with others.

That said, I think the bag is lovely, and I can't see it being a problem (and thank goodness it's a backpack)....but you don't want to be repurchasing a week later if she decides she can't be seen dead with it.

This is a great idea. Tell her she can still get it if she still wants it after week 1.

My dd was desperate for a Janssport bag in juniors - she used it for a year or 2. We still use it now 15 years on. They are very good bags.

So i'd say get it on that basis.

Will she be allowed to have a floral backpack? My daughter’s school only allowed black backpacks.

I like that rucksack but it would stand out as a bit different at my kid's school. Most do go for plain and dark colours. Puna, Nike, Adidas etc are generally what they have.

There are a few that have patterns, particularly in the younger years, but not many. I'm not aware of anyone being picked on because of their bag though. If she's set on that bag then I'd probably go for it but be prepared to switch to a plain one at some point if she feels self conscious. She could still use it at the weekends.

My DD did start off with a handbag that she very quickly realised was very difficult and heavy to carry around. She soon switched to a sports rucksack.

She has her heart set on it,

Can't she have it for use over the summer, for swimming or days out or holiday or whatever? Then she could get something different in September if she wants.

Have you been past the school when they're all coming out to see what everyone has?

One advantage of having a distinctive bag is that it's easy to pick yours out among all the black ones.

Mine would have wanted the same black backpack as everyone else after she started. She switched to a black Jansport about year 9 and she still uses it for other stuff now after college. They do last forever.

I would maybe suggest a darker colour as that would show the dirt very quickly.

Do you like it and would you use it yourself? Nearly 30 years after DC left school I'm still using discarded backpacks for swimming, yoga, walks, DH cycling, etc. I'd prefer that bag to my current, rather boring black bag!

It's fine, @Snacktastic . Decent brand and not cartoony at all.

My daughter has a dark green one and has had comments. She said all the boys have black bags and all the popular girls have black totes. She and her friends have neither but she’s never really worried about fitting in (and doesn’t!). So depends on if your daughter would care about what the others say or not (I always did, my daughter doesn’t at all)

My DD in year 6 is worried about bags because she doesn't want plain black! I was thinking a ditsy or dot pattern might be a good compromise (she has manga style cats currently!). It's good to know about jansport. Can anyone tell me what other brands would be socially acceptable?

I’d look at what the other year 7 girls at that school use - at this age most of them tend to want to follow the crowd. At my DD school that would be considered babyish. It also depends on how willing your DD is to stand out from the crowd.

Plain black is better