Do you buy lunchboxes and backpacks for your kids? (and do you use them??)

[CortLong]

Do your kids have their own backpacks and lunchboxes? 

If you use them, when? Classes? At the park? Just to hold their books/supplies?

Just wondering what other homeschool families do.....

[4evermom]

Someone gave my ds a backpack when he was about 5.  He has used it to carry toys for a playdate a couple times but mostly it hangs in the closet.  He has never had a specific lunchbox though we have an insulated lunch bag we share when we need to pack food for longer outings.  My ds doesn't particularly care about the containers as long as he has what he wants with him when we get where ever.  I can see another kid would be really into backpacks and lunchboxes and use them when they go on outings or to their co-ops.

[SundayCrepes]

Looks like you double posted. I answered in the other post.

[moominmamma]

We buy them when there's a need. Not when the kids were really little, but by age 6 or 7 there were plenty of activities where backpacks came in handy, partly because we have to travel so much for activities. My kids all did aikido for a while and we had to hike in to the dojo, often through deep snow, carrying their bulky uniforms and a water bottle -- packs that left the arms free were a definite plus. We do overnight trips for music lessons and the kids normally bring their personal items in their backpacks so that they have access to them easily in the minivan (novels, ipods, sudokus, sketchbook, go-cup). Because we have four kids it's a useful way to organize and contain the chaos that otherwise develops in the minivan if things are just in common bags. They're also great for drama camp, and music camp, and sleepovers. And for carrying stuff on the long walk to soccer practices (shinguards, cleats, water bottle, snack) or on family hikes (change of socks, bandaids, jacket, sunscreen, camera, water bottle, snacks). And when going to out-of-town rehearsals, or on tour with the choir, or when doing overnight stays for orchestra or whatever, it's nice to have a small bag for easy access on the bus or in the minivan or at breaks at rehearsal. 

For a few years we were on the road every Tuesday over lunch hour with no time to actually stop and dole food out, so we bought four nice lunch kits that functioned well for individual bento-style lunches. Everyone could just nom on what was in their kit and there was no fussing about passing things around in the van. We're still using those occasionally. Tomorrow my teens are in rehearsals all day, so their lunch will go with them in the kits, saving them $8 each at the café. Younger dd used hers a couple of weeks ago for the six days of theatre camp. 

We certainly didn't buy this stuff simply because school kids own them We bought them because they seemed likely to help keep my kids economically and amicably well-fed, well-kitted-out and well-entertained at otherwise awkward times away from home. 

Miranda

[kittywitty]

We buy them sometimes. We've had most of the same bento boxes for 6 years now. We use them for camps, playing at the park, picnics, etc. Backpacks are essential for sports, music, and road trips, IMO.

[onlyzombiecat]

Dd has a backpack. She uses it when we go somewhere and she wants to take a book, drawing pad, etc or clothes if we are staying overnight somewhere.

She has a lunchbox and has sometimes used it on car trips where I pack food instead of getting fast food. We mostly eat at home so it doesn't get used often but we have one.