Getting ready things for your kindergarten’s school is a big task. But even important is that to choose the best-sized backpack that would fit all their stuff perfectly without getting too heavy on their tiny spines.
Picking backpack for kindergartens is one of the most exciting parts of their school life. Kids are attracted to the characters and colors on the backpack and don’t go for the ergonomics of the backpack.
While you as a parent know, how important it is for your child to carry a comfortable bag on their tiny shoulders.
Children are fond of wearing their backpacks and roaming around with them. It allows them the opportunity to convey their valued belongings themselves, and as a caring guardian, you simply need to yield to their requests for a vivid pack.
But before buying any backpack there’s a certain question that pops into every parent’s mind: What Size Backpack For Kindergarten?
This article is a definitive guide to the size of kindergarten students. Stick to the article and you will get to know what size would be of yours kindergarten.
Let’s know about the need for a backpack for kindergarten.
See Also: 6 Best Backpacks with Luggage Sleeve in 2021
Table of Contents
DO kindergarten kids need a backpack in actuality?
Absolutely yes. Once your child is ready for school they absolutely need a backpack, which helps them to carry their lunch box, water bottles, homework, and toys.
Moreover, kindergarteners are fond of carrying a backpack as they have seen you and other kids carrying one.
Seeing people around them carrying different backpacks, your child is fueled with the desire to surpass those kids by having a backpack that adds value to their personality and this will also boost the confidence of your child. So they’ll definitely want one for themselves.
However, having a backpack will not only boost the self-confidence of your child but also help them carry their belongings easily.
But the main problem parent face while buying a backpack for their children is “size”. Backpacks come in different dimensions with different ergonomics varying from user to user.
This article gives a piece of detailed information on how to measure your child’s size and how to buy the best-sized bag for your kindergartener.
Finding the measure of your child for correct backpack sizing
Don’t mistake yourself by thinking that child’s backpacks are manufactured on the “one size fits all” phenomenon.
Our little ones come in various shapes and sizes. Some children are slim and some are chubby. So the sizes come accordingly.
To find the best-sized backpack for your little one you must know the following two dimensions of your child’s body:
- Measuring your child’s back length
- Measuring your child’s back width
Measuring your child’s back length
The height of the backpack for your child is determined by the distance between the shoulder line and waistline of your child. The shoulder line is midway between your child’s shoulder tips and neck.
The easiest way to measure your child’s back length is to stand him up straight facing towards you and tuck him to your chest or towards the wall.
Take the bony protrusion on their neck as the base point and measure down to their waistline. Measure the level of their belly button.
Take this measurement in inches. After you have done taking the measurement add two inches to the measured value. This will give you the back height of your child.
Measuring your child’s back width
To measure your child’s back width, the best way is to measure from ridges. Measure from one ridge of the shoulder blade to the other ridge of the other shoulder blade. Don’t include your child’s arm in this measurement.
Alternatively: In some cases, people also take back width measurement by measuring from armpit to armpit.
We have facilitated parents by providing the table of size guide of every kindergarten child age group. You can use that table in case you don’t have the tools or your child can’t sit still.
Standard backpack sizes for kindergarteners:
Our focus is on a specific age group and kindergarteners tend to grow faster so most parents choose a standard-sized backpack for them so that it will be comfortable for them while carrying.
In case you haven’t measured your child and are already shopping you can use this size guide to get the perfect-sized backpack for your child.
| Mini (fits kids ages 2-4 years) | Small (Fits kids ages 3-5 years) | Large (fits kids ages 5 and up) | Rolling (fits kids ages 5 and up) | |
| Overall(W,D,H) | 8.5” x 4.25” x 10.75′ | 12” x 6” x 15” | 13.75” x 7.5” x 17” | 13” x 7” x 18” |
| INTERIOR(W, D, H) | 8” x 3.75” x 10.25” | 11.5” x 5.5” x 14.5” | 12.5” x 6.5” x 16.5” | 12” x 6” x 17” |
| SHOULDER STRAP (2)(W, L) | 2.2” x 12-19.5” | 2.5” x 17.25-32.25” | 3” x 18-34” | 3” x 21-34” |
| CARRYING HANDLE(W, L) | 1” x 6” | 1.25” x 7.5” | 1.5” x 6.25” | 1.5” x 8.75” |
Backpacks of different sizes
Small backpacks- 15-20 liters
This backpack size is perfect for kindergarteners. A backpack with this capacity range is ideal for kindergarten students and will be able to hold their everyday use and can still hold everything the child will need including a tablet or a laptop.
Small backpacks are more compact and some have several smaller compartments that can hold smaller items like pencils and small stationery, etc.
This backpack size is also big enough to carry a lunch box and notebooks and your child would find it comfortable to carry around for a long time.
Medium backpacks- 20-30 liters
This backpack size is ideal for elementary-aged school children who have more to carry. So a larger backpack is needed for this purpose. This backpack is a lifesaver for those students who have a couple of subjects throughout the day.
Medium-sized backpacks are perfect for the students who have to carry their everyday essentials along with their tablets and a couple of books. A 30 liters capacity backpack is the most common backpack for school children.
Useful tip:
This backpack is large but not overly large and is difficult to handle for small children.
Large backpacks- 30-40 liters
Most middle and high schoolers go for a larger capacity backpack because they need a lot more than just books.
With their regular classes, sports, after-school activities, and part-time jobs, these youngsters have a lot more to haul around every day.
With so much burden on their back, your child must have an ergonomically fit backpack that comforts his/her back while carrying.
So you should pay attention to the weight of the backpack you are buying and make sure that it isn’t too heavy to be carried around.
A backpack with chest straps and padded shoulder straps and padded back panel can help your child with the burdens he/she is carrying on his/her back.
Wrong size alert:
If you accidentally get your child a wrong-sized backpack this may result in the leading problems that occur when kindergarteners don’t wear right-sized backpacks. This will cause back pain, shoulder pain, rounded shoulders, etc. like problems to your child.
Other factors to consider when purchasing a backpack for a kindergarten child
Storage capacity
Backpack storage space decides how much your child can put in it. For this purpose, you have to consult with your child about the belongings he used to carry with him/her to school.
The backpack you are buying must be spacious enough to carry every belonging of your child yet looks compact and comfortable.
Pro tip: The backpack you are going for your child shouldn’t take more than 15% of his/her body weight.
Several backpacks in the market have enough compartmentalization and are of standard size and compact design with a highly comfortable crying system.
Average Backpack size: The average school backpack size somehow falls in the range of 19-22 liters for kindergarteners.
Comfortable carrying system
The carrying system of any backpack is of utmost importance for school-going children, especially kindergarteners.
Those small shoulders are not capable of carrying heavy weights on their tiny backs so they need to carry a backpack that has a comfortable carrying system.
If you are purchasing a backpack for a middle or elementary school student then make sure that the shoulder straps are padded at least.
It would be more than better to have a chest strap too. It will add up the comfort level while carrying.
An ergonomic backpack would be comfortable for your kid to carry around all day long.
Material and durability
The material of the backpack it is made out of decides how durable and stable it is. We know well, children aren’t that caring about their backpack then we adults do. They don’t care about putting their bag on a damp surface.
Sometimes their water bottle gets a leak and the water went in and gets everything damp and dirty. Therefore, if you don’t want to buy a new backpack yearly then try to buy a bag of top-notch material with a minimum of 3 years of warranty.
Also, look for the quality of zippers used as cheap zippers get stuck and worn out so quickly. Try to purchase a water-resistant backpack (not waterproof).
If you wanted a backpack with high water resistance then you must go for a bag made out of nylon or polyester. These fabrics are highly water-resistant and durable and can stand multiple weather conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What problems can kindergarteners face when getting the wrong size backpack for them?
This would cause two main problems for your child. First, your child might find the interior space of the backpack either too small for his/her belongings or too large. The wrong sized backpack can cause your child back and shoulder pain.
If the backpack is too large it would be uncomfortable while carrying and the bottom of the backpack keeps hitting behind your child’s knee.
How Much Weight Should A Child Carry In Their Backpack?
Experts say that children shouldn’t carry any weight more than 15% of their body weight on their back.
The average weight of a kindergarten student ranges from 40-45 pounds. It means that they shouldn’t carry more than 4.5 to 6.75 pounds of weight in their backpacks.
Why is it important to read backpack size?
As we mentioned prior, getting the wrong size for your child may cause issues for your kindergartener. Consulting a size guide will help you get the right size for your child.
Moreover, sizes vary from brand to brand. We have provided a standard size guide that covers the sizes of different brands. You can consult that chart to get the right measurements of your child.
Conclusion
Choosing a backpack for kindergarten is an exciting part for them as well as for parents. But getting the right size is the most important thing.
This article is a complete and definitive guide to the size of the backpack that will suit your child.
We have facilitated our readers with a size chart and information about different sizes of backpacks and their category for which they will suit well.
We hope that you will find this article helpful. Do tell us how you find this article helpful in the comments below.
We appreciate your precious time. Thanks. Good Luck!
