The Fashionable Backpack

Your little baby is growing up. Before you know it, he's a toddler. And with new independence comes a mountain of his own things - toys, cups, craft supplies, loveys, favorite animals, and that's just the beginning. Thankfully, a host of organization supplies have emerged to help moms cope with the ever-growing amount of kid things. We couldn't be more pleased about the scores of great children's bags and backpacks that have recently been released. Here are our top three reasons to invest in a backpack for your toddler or big kid.

1. Cultivate a sense of responsibility.

It seems that just after little people learn to say "juice" and "mommy," comes their first concept of ownership and with it the word "mine." Although many moms dread the emergence of that concept, and the idea of teaching sharing and taking turns, there's an upside to this new challenge. Teach your toddler that if she has valuable possessions, it is up to her to keep track of them. Giving her a backpack in which to carry and keep these treasured items is a first, tiny step in teaching responsibility. With a little supervision, it can lead to a sense of accomplishment and pride for your little one.

2. It's a mommy helper.

Though we like to think that we can do it all, we can't grow extra arms. More often than not, it seems that we have more than we can physically hold. With proper supervision, giving your little one the responsibility of holding and carrying that-which-he'd-like-to-bring gives him a task and helps mom with her overstuffed bag.

3. Give him limited decision making.

Somewhere around two or three, many children decide that they need to take everything in the toy box with them on every outing. Give them the ability to make some choices. Allow your child to bring anything he would like to bring, as long as it fits in the backpack and he can carry it. When he overstuffs it the first time, require that he carry it. If you relent and help him, you'll be in for overstuffed bags from now until he can drive. But if you really let him learn the effect of his choice, you'll likely have a much more reasonable child on your hands in the years to come.