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!

I think this must be regional. My dc are at two different secondary schools and there’s not a tote bag in sight.

Black Nike are popular (which dd3 has because she likes to conform). Dd2 loves yellow and had a yellow bag for years 7 and 8 before moving to a navy with subtle rainbow trim because she likes colours but also wanted to fit in. Neither dd1 or 2 would have been seen dead with a Nike bag. It depends what group they end up in.

I’d get the bag but be aware she might want to change after year 7. But she might not.

bizarrely my dc have Nike pe bags but dd3 (the “cool” one) uses a jd sports plastic bag you get when you shop there because that’s what the cool kids do 🙄

Yes, if you don’t mind replacing it later. I think it’s lovely and will be fine.

My daughter’s friend started secondary with an expensive Harry Potter backpack. She’d barely been there a week when she refused to use it so good on you for thinking this through.

I find kids and styles change drastically at 11 and 16 so hold off any big spends. We got my son kitted out for college only to find his style had completely changed by October half term.

With my daughter we waited until October to do a big college/winter clothes shop and was glad we did.

My DD (year 7) has taken to using a bugaboo baby changing backpack in a tan colour! The bag she selected for the beginning of the year fell apart and she fell in love with this bag and all the compartments when it arrived from vinted (for my newest baby) so I let her have it. I was worried she might get teased but she seems to be doing a good job of staying true to herself so far with little trouble.

My DS in year 8 is less natural socially so needs the ‘right’ stuff to fit in. All depends on the child, school and peer group.

I thought it would be from Smiggle or something, you're completely overthinking.

It's completely fine, she also really likes it and is excited about getting ready for high school. Don't project your own ideas about what's socially acceptable onto her, nobody would bat an eyelid at my kids school about this and the kids who stress about fitting in are picking it up from their parents. Break the pattern!

In my experience they go through 3 bags by year 8🤣. My dd was set on this big back pack at first even though I said I was concerned it would get in people’s way. Few weeks later can I have an underarm style bag as my bag is too big. Then this year she’s gone off that as everyone has a black Nike rucksack so now she has that.

If you can could you park up and watch all the children coming out of the school to see what bags they have? I did this as my children were moving up to a different secondary so I didn't know any parents to ask what was "cool."

I have sons, mine took plain black Nike bags in with a teeny swoosh not a large one and then looked at what everyone else was carrying. They attached a lockable carabiner to the strap so that the carabiner couldn't be nicked and they could easily spot their bag under the desk.

They then had black laptop bags off Amazon as they walked home and needed a padded back. There was a range or branded backpacks but most were muted tones except for the bright yellow JD sports bags for their games kit. Mine had messenger bags for their games kits and used the carabiner to attach the strap of the messenger bag to their rucksack under the desk so they didn't forget their games kit.

This would be fine my DCs' large state secondary in the NE. My son's (male!) friend used a similar one until year 9 - not floral, but a bright, jazzy pattern.

Most girls do seem to swap their backpacks for shoulder/tote bags (?) - but prob not until year 8.

Depends if your DD wants to fit in or set her own 'likes'.

Is she a sheep type or a shepherdess?

Does she care whether she fits in? I have one child who really does and one child who is totally oblivious to fashion
Can you budget extend to a replacement if she has a change of heart?

I would get her it if she wants it. But I'd say it's more grannyish than babyish!

@Snacktastic my DD is in year 10 and since year 9, Longchamp (large) are all the fashion. Very expensive though. Although it’s doing well and still looks in good condition after 2 years. She’ll be using it next year too.

Not sure if you need a fashionable coat too. The kids like the bomber North Face coats. Again, not cheap.

I’d agree with this.

It’s cute and I personally like it but my y7 DD wouldn’t use it with a gun to her head, I’m afraid. She has a black (fake) Longchamp and is very happy with it, even knowing it’s knock off didn’t bother her as most people have fakes apparently. Before that she had a black Adidas backpack but was yearning to ditch it after about a week.

Why not encourage her to choose what she likes herself? Conformity is deadening!

I have 3 at secondary, yr10 yr9 and yr7.
We do have a black rule though at our school. Mine all started with a backpack nike I think but after a few weeks wanted something else. 2 of mine are wanting to be 'cool' so have a handbag and my other just uses whatever is about and couldn't care less, she actually uses a free tote bag that I got given from work. No one has ever said anything to them it was more just thier preference. I would buy the bag and if she changes her mind just grab something else as the bag she has chosen will come in handy for sleepover or travelling ect

OP your daughter should get the one that she likes and not be worried about what others will or won't say - please don't have her live life based on choosing things to suit others.

Buy her something that she loves. Who cares about fitting in tbh. Let her have the confidence to be her own person! <3

Granny-core is very on trend among the young ones if tik tok is anything to go by.

Who’s getting their kids longchamp to go to school?! That’s insane. What next- Hermes…?

Should kids be given the skills to be themselves and not follow each other trends like sheep?

Secondary teacher here! The backpack would be absolutely fine- I’ve never known kids be teased because of their bags. The only thing I’d say is- with it having a white background, it will probably end up quite dirty quite quickly as kids in secondary don’t have pegs to put them on- they’re usually on the floor under desks. It wouldn’t stay white for long.

This. Don't participate in crushing her individuality. Maybe even use it as an opportunity to have a chat about how to deal with bullies at school who want everyone to conform.

Our school says black plain bags only. Have you checked the policy.
Also, different areas and schools have different fashions for the bags. For example in one school its oversized totes for the girls, they all have them.
Have tou checked out what the kids are wearing in the school you are going to? As chances are in one week your daughter will come home requesting the 'same' type as is the standard adopted fashion at that school.

Wow that's come full circle! The JD sports plastic drawstring bag was the thing when I was at school 25 years ago! Also the Nike drawstring ones with the waterproof lining (which means if your drink leaks everything in your bag drowns and you don't know until you go to fish something out)

I think it really depends on the school. The ‘rougher’ it is, the more that flying under the radar is super important. My eldest is not one to follow the crowd, is very street wise and independent and their advice to younger sibling (year 7 this year) was don’t stand out.

it’s all very well posters encouraging OP that her daughter shouldn’t try to fit in, but some schools, it’s the difference between getting along quietly or being bullied