• Backpacks come in many sizes, even for the smallest student.holding backpack image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
  
  Although some parents and school administrators voice concerns over the weight of backpacks causing strain for some students, backpacks are now available in many different styles to suit any child's needs. Most children would be lost without a backpack to help get them through the day. A backpack allows a child of any age to get organized, stay organized and keep all the important essentials close by throughout the school day.
  
  

Organization

• Some backpacks are large enough to carry a student's lunch as well.backpack of money image by Yuriy Poznukhov from Fotolia.com
  
  One of the greatest advantages of having a backpack in school is that a backpack can help a student keep himself organized as he travels from home to school and between classes. Students and parents can work together to pack the compartments each morning or evening before school to ensure the child is prepared with his lunch money, textbooks, homework assignments, notebooks, pens and pencils. Throughout the day as a student moves from one classroom to another, he can keep all of his personal belongings safe and organized even if the school does not provide lockers for students.
  
  

Textbook Protection

• Textbooks can be well-protected in a padded backpack.books and apple. image by mashe from Fotolia.com
  
  Most schools spend a lot of money on new textbooks, and students are expected to take good care of them to ensure the books last long enough to be passed on to other students in the coming years. If a textbook becomes lost or damaged, a student or his parents may be held responsible for the replacement cost of the textbook. In addition, some private school systems charge families for the cost of textbooks as part of a student's yearly tuition. When a student is given the opportunity to keep his textbooks in a secure backpack, he may be less likely to drop his books and potentially lose them or cause damage to the book covers and spine.
  
  

Self-Expression

• Backpacks for young children often incorporate stuffed animal characters.girl image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
  
  A colorful backpack design can be a healthy, non-threatening way for a child to express his creativity and individual style. In some schools where mandatory uniforms may limit a student's opportunity for self-expression, a carefully chosen backpack may offer a chance for a student to show his appreciation of a certain band, television program or favorite animal.
  
  

Safety

• Backpacks help distribute weight evenly across the body.boy with a backpack image by Stepanov from Fotolia.com
  
  A backpack can also provide an added layer of safety when the student's books and other belongings are safely tucked inside a backpack. If a student's hands are free, he can be more alert. He is able to hold onto the banister for safety as he travels between floors in school, and his hands are free to break his fall if he trips or another student bumps into him.