should kids carry backpacks

[elainesj]

wow, we've travelled everywhere since the kids were little and they always carried their own little bags from the time they were 2 and up.

when we did Disney this year at 8 and 9, dd9 carried a crossbody purse which she only took off when she had to. DH carried a big backpack and I also carried a crossbody sling bag. I don't trust ds8 as well so he carried a fanny pack that never had to come off so that was great. most of the time, he was also in charge of the bottle of water on a bottle lanyard(we all share one because we like drinks at odd times and would hate to have to hunt down a CS while waiting for parade, in line somewhere, or whatever).

No one ever had a problem carrying things although by the last few days of our 10 day trip, i was pruning stuff left and right and by the last couple of days, we went without ANY bags.

They did complain sometimes at nights because I would add string backpacks to their loads (to carry sweaters and light toys). But I don't have much sympathy for that kind of whining. They just have to deal with it like DH and I. Often if I knew they were really sleepy, we would take their bags to help them out. But that usually only happened once or twice and only on the trip back to the resort.

Bottom line, if you don't trust your kids, a fannypack is great and holds quite a fair bit of stuff and really lightens the load for mom and dad! I distributed our stuff so the backpack wouldn't be insanely heavy for dh. Keep in mind, we were there in Jan and sweaters are heavy. When I was there in Oct, we had a much lighter load.

 

[walkerelt001]

disney is heaven

 

[chris31997]

You should watch when we travel. DS, who is 5, has his own "carry-on". Takes it everywhere. It is a hoot to watch him with his bag. He loves it. If your kids are used to doing this and responsible for their stuff than you can give them a bag and their stuff. I would not do this to them for the first time. Carrying a bookbag to school does not count in my mind.

For instance, I do not carry things for DD, she is 13, we are at the zoo all day. She carries her own stuff and sometimes stufff for her brother. DS is still young. He is asked to help out and carry things. I do remind him. I do not expect him to carry a bag all day because he is 5. But I expect him to help. As he gets older, he will have to carry more and longer.

I would also minimize items taken in.

 

[southern_redhead]

as signature states kids are 9 and 8. my thing is i dont know exactly what to bring in parks. i do know that i will be carrying a canon xs with a 18 to 200mm lens. i also know we wil be carrying 2 ds lites and ponchos. also snacks. dd 8 has over working metabolism and autism. when blood sugar is low she can be a bear. my problem is that i was hit by an eighteen wheeler in august and have back and necked problems. i will not be able to carry a heavy bag. was thinking fanny pack would be the way to go.

Will your child with autism be okay with wearing a backpack or fanny pack? And is the DS to give her something familiar to focus on? I was just curious, because if it isn't, I'd leave it behind. It sounds like there is plenty to look at and do there, I'd be worried the DS would be lost or ruined somehow. If she needs it, though, bring it!

And I am so sorry to hear about your accident! I hope you continue to recover, how awful that must be!

I agree with this. As a family we have a bag with above mentioned items. I think one back pack per family is plenty.

I think this was in reference to the poster who stated that she brought everything in her back pack such as sunblock, a camera, "a water bottle", etc....? The only reason I posted this is because it's the one reason I'm thinking of getting the kids fanny packs. If we bring our own water into the parks I'd have to bring SIX bottles of water and label them which is a PITB. We do not, NOT!, drink after each other though so if we bring them I'll either have to do that all in my bag OR get fanny packs and dole them out for them to carry. I'm seriously considering the "free ice water at CS stations", though, as long as they won't get ticky with me for wanting six cups.

Nodding along to the last two posters

My children also carry their stuff to school each day - is this uncommon over the pond in the US?

No, it isn't uncommon at all. However, my kids carrying a backpack and lunchbox into the school and then hanging it in a cubby or on a hook for the duration of the day before bringing it home is far different from lugging it around WDW for six days. At school (usually, at least here "across the pond" - I love that expression, BTW!) it is left alone all day - although, DS in 6th does change classes and take it with him but it hangs behind his chair in each class.....- but in WDW they would be taking it off at restaurants, on rides, in shows, etc... and, let's face it, school is a bore compared to the excitement of WDW We haven't been yet but I'm sure my kids will be far more excited and hyper there than they are at school



So, for those whose kids wear fanny packs - where did you find them?

 

[mfulk]

On our last trip our older two were 5 and 3. My mom bought them little mickey and minnie backpacks at walmart in Orlando when we arrived and they loved them. They wore them all week with their little snacks in them just because they wanted too. We had our stroller so they could have put them in there at any point but they just loved wearing them. DD (now 6) has hers all packed and ready for our next trip with things she thinks she might need.

 

[herdtoDisney]

We went last month and we didn't carry anything. I had a fanny pack for my wallet and cellphone and camera and that was it! We rented a locker for jackets (cool evenings) and had DDP so had plenty of drinks. If I had each kid carry a backpack, then I'd spend all day checking to make sure no one left it on a ride, in a restaurant, ect...if I was still carrying baby stuff (or other items like snacks if needed), I'd just have ONE backpack and have everyone take turns with it.

 

[Danibelle]

I would be a little concerned with carrying DS Lites every day. Even a little extra weight becomes a big extra weight as the day wears on. I would worry that if the backpacks were left somewhere, the DS Lites would just disappear. Can the kids survive a day without them? Disney itself is an entertainment.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I can't speak for others, but my dd has high functioning autism and my DS has severe ADHD and sensory processing disorder. Having a game system especially in lines is very helpful for them. It gives them a chance to zone out mentally and relax a little because the parks and all the people can be very overstimulating. It also comes in handy when they are hungry and we're waiting for a table at a ts rest. We avd it whoever we can, but even with an early seating sometimes there is a long wait.

We bring ds's DS with us everywhere for the same reasons, just in case we'll need it. He has Asperger's, SPD, and an anxiety disorder. The games provide an escape for him without actually having to leave.

That said there is no way I'd let him carry it himself. He would lose it, I'm sure. Something would catch his attention, and he'd set it down. I could trust his sister to bring one, but she couldn't be less interested in video games.

 

[alwaysmom]

We bring one lightweight backpack for the family. DH carries it most of the time. We don't bring much in it at all although it is a bit fuller by the end of the night. I carry a small VB hipster.