SCHOOL BAG

An appropriate schoolbag is an essential requirement for infants. Children take great pride in their schoolbags and lunch boxes and get upset when they cannot manage them independently. Take time to teach your child how to pack and look after his or her bag. Show them where everything goes and praise them for being able to do it independently. 

To make the whole process easier for your child, please ensure you buy a schoolbag that has the following:

• 2 straps
• a hook at the top
• pockets at the side for a drink bottle
• zip fasteners rather than buttons or Velcro
• is large enough to fit a lunch box and an A4 folder comfortably. Don't be tempted to buy a small bag just because your child is small. They cannot place their folders and lunch boxes easily into a small bag.

 

DRINK BOTTLE

Please ensure your child's bottle is an appropriate size and has a sports top lid only. The bottle must be able to fit easily into the side pocket of the school bag. Some drink bottles are far too big and heavy. Young children cannot hold them in one hand and forget to close the lids. As a result they spill very easily.

Please remember the following when buying a drink bottle:

• Sports Top lid. These lids do not spill even if they are left open (see picture). No screw top or straw bottles please.
• holds no more than 500ml. The children do not have the time or capacity to drink any more in a school day.
• fits into the side pocket of the schoolbag with ease.
• Can be held in one hand. In most cases, if your child needs 2 hands to lift their drink it is too heavy and big for them.

Learning these new skills takes a lot of time and patience and of course there is always someone to help your child. But by following these tried and tested guidelines, you are giving your child the best chance right from the start. It is so nice to see all the children busy sorting themselves out. They feel so important and proud.