Do your kids carry backpacks at the park?

[kitayama]

Just a little observation here... I have noticed the word cheap and little here when discussing bags, and I am wondering if this is the route to take. I have always carried a backpack, and I always get comments from others about how heavy my backpack is as they hand it to me. I always say it isn't that bad, and I mean it; I am not putting up a strong front. One day my wife carried my backpack because it was set up as a diaper bag and she did not feel like setting up a different one. When I met up with everyone later that day she said that my bag wasn't heavy after all. We realized that I always purchase nice, expensive day packs meant for day hikes because they last forever. As a side effect however, they are also quite supportive, compact, and breathable. My wife carries a "cute" bag and had me carry her bag a different day (I have three kids and a wife, I have nothing to prove, so I didn't mind). Even though it was much lighter, my back hurt. She is looking at backpacks that are supportive and breathable now because of this discovery (it still needs to be cute apparently, so this is taking a while.)

 

[thewesterberg]

Add us to the list of our DS carrying his own bag. Once we ditched the stroller (when he was 5) he had a waist pack that he carried his lanyard, sunglasses, and a small snack in. We did that for a couple of trips and then he went with a drawstring backpack. (Actually started with a backpack I received at a work conference but it fell apart the first day so we picked up a cool Disney drawstring).

He now throws a book in along with the other stuff and reads while we are on the bus, in lines, waiting for evening shows, or any time we pause for more than second! One trip he burned thru the 4 books we brought with so we started buying the Kingdom Keepers series. Ended up finish 3 and was half way thru the 4th by the time we got home. I'm not sure if his teacher believed his reading log for his week at WDW! But it kept him occupied and happy (and I didn't have to lug around books in my bag!)

 

[socalmomof2boys]

Our boys are 8 and 11 and have taken their own bags since they were little. We got them camelbaks with pockets and they carry those. This way they have water at all times and a spot for snacks and extras. It has been great for us. They like having their own "gear".