Before you jump to conclusions after reading the title, let me explain. Of course you have to label your kids’ school supplies — it’s practically the law! Not to mention, it helps prevent lost lunch boxes, backpacks, etc. The problem, however, is that when you use a permanent marker to label your child’s name on a lunch box or backpack, it can’t be passed down to a sibling or to another family (if you sell or donate it). Not very repurposeful!
Instead of marking up a backpack or lunch box with a permanent marker, consider this:
To label a lunch box or backpack: Take a small piece of scrap fabric from your stash or from an old white t-shirt and cut out a rectangular strip large enough to write your child’s name on. Use a permanent marker or to write your child’s name. You can attach the strip either by stitching it directly onto the backpack or lunch box with a needle and thread, or by looping it on a handle and stitching the fabric closed on one end. If the thought of needle and thread scares you, you can take a small safety pin and attach the fabric to the inside of the backpack or lunch box, in a spot that won’t be touched by little hands.
I’m adding this post to We Are That Family’s Works for Me Wednesday (WFMW) series. This week’s theme is back-to-school. Go check it out to find more helpful tips!
Photo by D Sharon Pruitt.
repurposeful 
I’ve had the same concern about labeling and then not being able to hand it down to Princess2. But I also discovered that the lunchbag we bought last year had a see through pocket to label – and a cardstock paper to write her name on. But I hadn’t figure out the backpack yet.
I so wish I had read this back in may when we got the boys new backpacks at a yard sale—I just attacked them with permanent marker and now I am seeing that its bleeding through to teh font of the bags (I wrote on the inside) oh well–tip learned for next time THNX 😉
we just tell our younger ones to deal with it. cross out the older sibling’s name and write your own. 🙂 we have a pooh lunchbox that is about to serve child #4. he thinks it’s the coolest thing that each of his sisters has written her name on the inside and used it too. once the kids get older, you’ll find that backpacks and lunchboxes are really beat to cr*p in one school year and unable to hand down much beyond to the preschooler using it at home to “play.” or we use them for beach bags or car bags to keep junk in for travels. always repurposed though. 🙂
Permanet markers can often be removed with fingernail polish or rubbing alcohol. I recycle many of my kids’ second-hand items. Sometimes it’s an ever greater bargain because of the “permanent” ink. For a quarter, I’ll often take a chance that I can remove it — maybe not on the first try but over time, I can usually get the ink off.
Great idea! I’m going to do that for my kids’ stuff this year! What I’ve done in the past though is just put their first initial/last name, so strangers can’t “know” their name just by looking at their backpack. 🙂
If your last name is unique enough (i.e. not one of the 8 Smith families in the school) you can just use the last name. We learned that with kiddo #2, now we just label everything with our last name.
It’s also a safety hazard if your children take their bags with them in public places… a perfect stranger could SEE the name (if written on the outside) and approach your child using their own name. “Hey, Matt, how are your parents?” This makes them seem familiar and then the child may let his/her guard down. Keep labels/names on the INSIDE so that they’re not visible to everyone (including potential predators) is definitely best!
Eden– see through pockets are great! Someone handy with crafting could probably add their own.
Aileen– I love the idea of leaving the legacy of siblings who’ve gone before you. I’m a dunce and put the name on the outside of the backpack for all to see. Not smart nor is it probably very safe! And repurposing bags for play around the house is always lots of fun for the little ones.
Josie– Oooh, I didn’t think about trying rubbing alcohol or fingernail polish remover. I’ll have to try that!
SJL & Katrina– Using last name only is a great idea. We have a one-of-a-kindish last name, so that would work well.
Thanks for all the helpful comments & tips!
April– Good point, very smart tip. Thanks.
You ladies are awesome! Thanks for the advice and tips.
[…] Back-to-School Tip: Don’t Label Your Kids’ Backpacks, […]
Great tip. We took it one step farther – I went to PetSmart and got those little engraved tags owners use to identify their dogs. But try to overlook that! You can easily fit a child’s first and last name, plus a phone number, on the tag. Then you just attach them to the zipper pull of a lunchbag, backpack, etc. They last forever – or at least, my son’s has lasted two years plus, and looks fine. Not only can you hand down the bag, you can transfer the tag!
And it completely sidesteps the possibility of someone seeing your child’s tag and calling out his name – you have to get right up to it and pick it up.
They cost about $8 each, but it’s worth it!
I label everything with permanent markers. I do not write the child’s name, though; just our family’s last name.
Or they make really fun luggage tags that can be used as well!
Last name worked for me too, but now I don’t have any other kids to hand down to, so friends or cousins get them now.
Making a few stitches to labeled cloth is a good idea.
Backpacks Galore
This is excellent information and something we completely agree with. It’s especially important when traveling in Latin American countries where the risk of child kidnapping is much higher, and parents are very aware of the need to securely label their kids possessions without using their name.
Our company, GoKodes lost and found labels, has a unique lost and found label that uses a QR barcode. It contains no personal information, features custom rewards, instant email and text message alerts when scanned and comes in a vibrant choice of cool colors kids love. At $9.99 for 10 labels it provides great additional insurance against accidental loss while protecting your kids.
Check out our artice, ‘Get it Back Pack’ at:
http://www.gokodes.com/summer-camp-back-to-school-learn-how-gokodes-labels-keep-it-safe/
I quite like reading through an article that can make men and women think. Also, many thanks for allowing for me to comment!
I saw a great tip on a site that suggested using waterproof first aid tape to label backpacks and lunch boxes as a durable but non-permanent solution for marking your child’s gear. That way they can be passed on to the next child, or donated without having to find a way to cover the preexisting name.
luggage tags. but i don’t like they are easily removable which would make for easy theft. I think i would like to sew a nice tag in, then remove it to use the next year. you can even have the kids pick out scrap fabric to match their bag or add their favorite character that way.
Name labels are the best option for kid’s school items, since the tendency of kids to misplace things in schools increases manifold. Labels are important part of kid’s lifestyle as these labels are very helpful in making their life easy to live in school.
I label everything with our last name, that way any of my 7 kids, or myself, can use whatever we need & it always ends up back home.
Nice blog! Only problem is i’m running Firefox on Debian, and the site is looking a little.. weird! Perhaps you may want to test it to see for yourself. what backpack should i get for high school
In these modern days, backpacks are necessary for school, traveling hiking, and other outdoor activities. so for every activity, you need a specific backpack. some students need the best backpacks for their high school. You must buy a good backpack. thanks