What to pack for daycare and childcare

Keep all your child’s belongings together in their own backpack. It’s easy to grab as you’re rushing out the door and will help your child develop a sense of ownership.

Why does my child need a backpack for childcare or daycare?

At Edge Early Learning, we aim to make life simpler for parents and caregivers, so we supply most of the necessities for your child. However, there are a few personal items that it makes good sense – and good hygiene – for each child to bring their own. We’ve found the best way to keep everything together is in a backpack.

Kids love having their own backpack for daycare. You may be surprised that something as simple as strapping on their backpack and popping it into their special nook at daycare has multiple developmental benefits. Taking ownership of their bag encourages independence and gives children a sense of pride and accomplishment to be responsible for their own belongings. And putting their bag away becomes part of the morning routine that helps children to feel comfortable at childcare.

Of course, there’s also the practical benefit of keeping your child’s personal items organised and easily accessible. Children can also put their art and craft creations into their backpacks to bring home at the end of the day. Asking them about their masterpieces is a great way to get them talking about their day and sharing what they did at daycare.

What to pack in your child’s backpack for daycare

The good news is there’s not a whole lot you need to pack. At Edge Early Learning, we provide sustainable nappies, wipes, nutritious meals and sunscreen. It is helpful for your child to bring a few personal items and we’ve made a simple checklist for what to pop in your child’s backpack for daycare:

• Spare change of clothes, including underwear;
• Comforters if required;
• Water bottle and hat (supplied at enrolment);
• Formula/breastmilk with bottles if your child needs them, and;
• Fitted sheet for rest time (available for purchase at reception) and a blanket in cooler weather.

Tips for packing your child’s backpack for daycare and childcare

Choose a backpack that is lightweight, durable and an appropriate size for your child. Once they’re big enough, kids embrace the independence of carrying their own backpack like “big school kids”. You can build excitement around going to childcare by taking your child shopping to choose their very own backpack for daycare. Alternatively, perhaps a family friend with older children has a daycare bag they’d like to pass on to your child. Remember to label all your child’s belongings to avoid mix-ups. You can use printed name labels or name stamps or simply write their name with a permanent marker.

Remember to unpack your child’s daycare backpack or at least check the contents! Our educators aim to let you know if there’s any soiled clothing for you, but it’s best to always check to ensure your child will always have a clean spare set, as well as their other daycare essentials. Our top tip is to check your backpack for childcare each evening, so in the morning you can just top it up and go.

What not to pack for daycare and childcare

We like to keep things simple for everyone, so please just pack the essentials. It’s best to leave toys and special belongings at home where they won’t be at risk of being accidentally lost or broken.

Backpacks at Edge Early Learning

Having your child’s backpack for daycare ready each morning can help make drop offs easier. You may like to bookmark this page so you can refer to the handy backpack checklist until it becomes second nature. Please ask the educators at your local Edge centre if you would like more advice.