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!

My only concern would be how quickly it will get grubby. A decent, reasonably waterproof backpack would definitely be my preference over anything more handbag-like.

Round here, lots of students have the ubiquitous black Nike backpacks but plenty more have patterned or block colour ones, often Eastpak or Fjallraven Kanken. My DC both had Eastpak backpacks (school policy was backpack in a block colour) which lasted the five years of secondary school and are still in use at college. PE kit often ended up in a Primark cloth bag of some description because of the long handles.

Whatever bags you end up buying, I'd recommend putting first initial, last name and your own mobile number in it somewhere obvious. That way, when it gets left at the bus stop, it's easier for whoever picks it up to let you know where it is.

That’s definitely not the case here - I have 3 teenage daughters ages 14-18 who I’m close to and they would never want a handbag. I asked and they said it would be seen as “try-hard” and “cringe”. Their teachers use handbags.

black bags only at our local schools if you want a believable fib.

My DD had a bag that isn't black, but it is a Kånken so still trendy. She never had an issue at secondary school.

My dd has that almost identical backpack... She's had it from aged 6 (9 now).

I suspect the pattern might not cut it at secondary

My daughter got to year 10...and then wanted an oversized handbag...complete with portable straighteners...fml. im west country too

My twins are year 10. I guess schools differ too.

My year 6 child is off to comp in sept too, my 13 year old (autistic, sings to her own tune fashion wise ) was very seriously outlining bag rules to me the other day, I hadn’t asked, she was saying how she felt he would be ok as he is social, but you need to think about bag carefully - generally Nike, anything different could draw negative attention. He actually has a plain Nike bag in primary anyway so it’s not as if that’s against his tastes- I’d guess each school is going to vary a little, but if your daughter was here I’d avoid, unless she was mega popular, the sort to carry anything off. Even as I write that I feel uncomfortable as everyone can do as they want, but personally I’d avoid anything risky during the forming friendship stage. I could be heavily skewed as I have an autistic child who I’m v aware to help her blend in, in the ways she wants too. The bag is lovely though!

They all have black back bags as far as I can see @Snacktastic. I asked DD (year 9) who said the year 7s often start with bags like this but by mid term they have switched to black. For what it's worth, my DD says 'for God's sake don't let her take the flowery bag.' 😆

Buy it
It is her preference & who cares what others say.
Options incase she does find it a problem
Here our kids have ditched backpacks that cost alot for cotton totes...

Thank you everyone, there’s some mixed answers but the majority have said it was fine! I’m leaning towards ordering it but will wait until weekend.

To answer a few questions/ comments….

This is an expensive bag, and I ideally wouldn’t want to buy a new one later in year 7 or 8. She doesn’t have a spare backpack, her current bag is from Smiggle and I think that would be much worse to start the year off with! She’s also quite excited about a new bag to start secondary with anyway.

I can’t get there for when they’re all coming out, but the ones I’ve seen wondering around mostly have black backpacks, I’ve also seen grey and navy blue. There’s nothing in the uniform policy about what kind of bag they can have.

I have not seen any handbags, and I would want her to have something comfortable/ practical anyway. A handbag is not an even distribution of weight.

She is quite confident in herself, and wouldn’t be upset by someone saying they didn’t like her bag or if they thought it was ugly etc, I think she’d just say ‘OK’. She would be upset if people were laughing at her for it. (If they would?!).

I absolutely would not tell her it was too young etc for secondary if I decide against it. I would tell her I called to double check the uniform policy and it has to be a plain/ block colour. She’d then be free to pick any block colour…. I suspect she’d go for purple, lilac or light blue.

Still is in mine, too the point where I have a small stock of them in my drawer for when they inevitably break 😀
My school is a mix of jd bags, girls with large totes and others with back packs of all colours. I have a fabulous crocs backpack for work and appear to be in fashion as a few kids now have those too.

In a school with a strict uniform policy that doesn’t include bags like mine it’s nice to see them expressing themselves a bit with their bags.

My daughter is in Year 10, and has never had a plain bag. This is the bag she currently has now

If shes confident and not the type to want to be the 'same' as a lot of secondary kids do then go for it.
I got mine a back bag she loved and within weeks she wanted a River Island handbag like all the others. None of them were cheap.

I agree to stand outside school with her one day and see what people are carrying. She can then decide for herself if hers would fit in ... or indeed if she doesn't give a toss if it doesn't!

My cousin's daughter has cute backpack when she started at a new school for the last year of primary in a rural area. It got filled up with sheep shit before the end of her first week there and she would use it again even after it had been washed.

Greg Davies does a brilliant bit on stage of a schoolmate of his nicknamed 'Bagdad'. He wasn't from the Middle East, he just mentioned at the school that his dad had got it for him - thus 'Bag Dad'.
Decades later his own kids call him Bagdad now! 😆

Having visited a girls' secondary school and been greeted by a sea of pink, floral bags, I'll think she'll fit right in.

Found it:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vz--2xSf7yM

Depending on the school and area, it's some times not at good ideas to stand out.

Can I recommend that if she is going to be walking or waiting for a bus that you find a waterproof bag.
Some of the rucksacks my kids had over the years were waterproof and other weren't and one downpour can ruin all their books/folders which they then have to live with for the rest of the year

I agree. Get it and just use it on holidays or weekends if not used!

It's perfect..hope she enjoys her first year and dosent follow the sheep with the same everything xx

Yes it’s the sort of bag that will attract comments from the bullies.

I was expecting unicorns or mermaids! That’s quite a grown up design to me. I doubt anyone else at school will care - or she’ll find others with the same bag!

Jansport bags are the ones the kids go for at our school and there is nothing childish or out of the ordinary about that one. Urban Outfitters are awash with similar retro designs

Sorry but she'll get tortured,I've seen it happen with my granddaughter. Anything deemed not the norm with secondary school by pupils who can be vicious will instantly stand out to the bullies.