by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: November 05, 2007

Fortunately, selecting and buying a school bag for a young girl need not be a big issue between parent and child.

Getting ready for school and all its shopping can be stressful. Stores get more crowded, competing stores will offer various selections and sale prices.

The idea is to make the shopping trip a pleasant mother/daughter one. There will be some items you just have to insist on. A school bag choice made by your daughter (with your oversight) will help her feel she has some say and make the shopping more pleasant all around.

When girls are in first and second grade, they mostly are just interested in the color and whether or not it has a Disney character or some other latest icon that has influenced the market. Not a big deal. There will be a good variety to choose from

As long as the school bag is of good quality and practical use, I'd say, let them choose it. One important consideration, is making sure the all-important-shoulder-strap is of good quality....that's a must! That bag will get lots of wear and tear and heavier during the school year.

As she gets into third, fourth and fifth grades, the choice becomes more of a struggle. Not for the parent, because you will still be mostly interested in the quality and durability and getting the best price for the school bag.

However, choosing a school bag now becomes harder for the child because she is becoming more independent and will want to pick out a school bag that reflects her individuality while still not straying too far off from what her peers will end up choosing.

In this case, you can offer suggestions such as, "this color will match most of your outfits" or "I think this one looks better because...." Once again, let her make the final choice, provided its within range of the price you have set.

The only issue to enforce is a price range and insisting that the school bag chosen meets all the needs of practicality, durability and is a good fit, neither too big nor too small.

Before you know it, your little girl will become a grown up girl all too soon. Make the shopping experience fun and again, let her choose the bag if the price is OK on the pocketbook.

Speaking as a mother of two grown daughters, the time flies by so fast, you will soon find yourself helping her choose her wedding gown. So make it fun and enjoy the time you have shopping together while she is still your little girl!

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