For many parents, kindergarten is a necessary form of childcare, but for children it is also a real enrichment. Together, through shared play, crafts and—not least—climbing and romping on a wide variety of playground equipment, they discover the world. A well-packed kindergarten backpack helps make the day a complete success.
The basic equipment – What every child should have in their backpack
In general, there are a few things that every child should have with them for a normal day at kindergarten. On the one hand, this is about physical well-being, because anyone who romps and plays also gets hungry. On the other hand, the most common uncertainties should be covered so that even in the event of problems, the child can quickly return to playful everyday life:
– Lunch box with a healthy, varied snack
– Drinking bottle, ideally with tea, juice spritzer or other drinks without too much sugar
– Scarf and hat for cool days in the outdoor play area
– Sun hat to protect against sunburn and sunstroke
– Tissues
– Comfort blanket or stuffed animal as quick comfort in an emergency
TIP: Despite the wide variety of products, there is always the risk that children will quickly mix up bottles, lunch boxes and other items. A suitable remedy is a personalized lunch box with an engraved name, clear identifying marks for their owners.
Useful additions in the backpack
Beyond the “standard” backpack contents, various extras should also be considered that focus on the children’s special needs. These include items related to special hygiene needs, as well as individual items ranging from medication to visual aids and other forms of assistance:
– Diapers, if the child is not yet reliably toilet-trained
– A change of clothes for little mishaps
– Glasses case to safely protect the visual aid in the playroom or outdoor play area
– Individual medications, ideally with instructions for the educators
Theme days, outings and special forms of childcare – What extras does the child need?
Special activities, such as hiking days, or a wide variety of outings regularly add variety to everyday kindergarten life. However, nowadays there are also special forms of childcare, such as forest kindergartens. For the special challenges of such a day, the backpack should be packed accordingly. Unlike the normal backpack equipment, other items may be needed here, depending on the planned activity or the destination of the outing:
– Rain jacket and rain pants, so that the outing doesn’t literally fall through because of rain
– Note with emergency number / parents’ telephone number in case the child gets lost
– If required, money as a contribution toward kindergarten expenses, for an ice cream and the like
Conclusion – comprehensively equipped with the right backpack contents
Every kindergarten has slightly different requirements and wishes regarding what the children should bring. And not every day is the same either. That is why the ideal backpack contents for kindergarten vary time and again. With the right basic equipment, however, there is a solid foundation that parents can adapt as needed without having to start from scratch every time.
