Best School Bags for Tween Girls

Tween Fashion with Functionality

Tweens are energetic, and tween girls are fun to be around. Having taught the age group, and raising a few of my own, however, I know that when it comes to keeping track of school materials and books, they can be a little scatterbrained. School bags are important tools, but the self-conscious tween may be a little bit picky about which school bag they will accept.
Fashion, of course, is important to the tween girl. Function is important to parents and educators. At the middle school level there may, or may not, be access to locker storage. With most school systems stretched to the limits on schedule and space, though, tweens must carry materials for several classes at a time, in spite of locker storage. Come the end of the school day, there may barely be time to dash to a locker before catching the school bus. Hence, it's very important that your tween daughter have a good, sturdy school bag, one which will handle the weight (as much as 40-45 lbs) that some kids' school books create.

	Jansport Big Student Backpack(White/Blue Light RhondaPlaid) Amazon Price: $55.00
	JanSport Trinity Core SeriesDaypack (Pure Purple/PunjabiPurple/Optimus Grey) Amazon Price: $55.00
	JanSport Callback ClassicsSeries Daypack (RomanceRed/Majestic Pink) Amazon Price: $40.95 List Price: $60.00
	JanSport Trinity Core SeriesBackpack, Grey Humboldt/RedCurtain/New Storm Grey Amazon Price: $55.00
	JanSport Scraper Core SeriesDaypack (Black/High Risk RedGlare) Amazon Price: $39.95 List Price: $70.00
	JanSport Classic 90's PackBackpack, Calypso Blue/CalypsoBlue Grunge Amazon Price: $60.00

Backpacks for Tween Girls

Backpacks are a standard these days, though they weren't when I was in middle school as a student. I would have loved one, if I had thought of it at the time. Now, it's no big deal for a tween girl to carry a backpack. A couple of hints, though, if you are selecting a backpack for your tween daughter or granddaughter: skip the characters! No Barbie, no Hello Kitty, no Hannah Montana! Nothing against the characters, per se, but middle school students can be ruthless teasers, and the tween girl who unsuspectingly shows up with something the older kids perceive as childish will face certain problems. I've seen it happen.
Colorful backpacks are great, and work with the tween's interests. School bags will hold heavy loads, so finding something from a trusted name such as Jansport is a good choice. Extra zipper pouches for pencils and other writing tools is a good organizational help, something most tweens seem to need. If you know her tastes in color and design, work from that point of reference.

	Van Gogh Almond BlossomsDesign Messenger Bag - SchoolBag - Laptop Bag - ReporterBag - Unisex - Ideal Gift forall occassions! There are so many styles anddesigns in messenger bags,backpacks, and sports bags fortweens, at Amazon...you havethe luxury of a multitude ofstyles at your virtual fingertips! Amazon Price: $39.99
	Red / Black Trail Maker SchoolStudents Sling MessengerShoulder Bag / Cross BodyBookbag Amazon Price: $17.50

Messenger Bags for Tween Girls

Messenger bags have become very popular, and make a sensible alternative to a backpack, when it comes to school bags for kids. The backpack allows for weight of books and school materials to be carried on the back, the messenger bag allows for crossbody carrying. Both approaches work, but the constant adjustment of the backpack on the shoulders can be a little frustrating, whereas the crossbody bag is a little more stationary in its position.
Again, with tween girls, avoid anything that might be perceived as baby-ish by classmates. Colorful patterns are great, if it's something she loves, and many plaids and prints in tween school bags are tasteful, without being obnoxious.

adidas Santiago IV ReversibleSackpack, Black/Diva, Amazon Price: $12.42 List Price: $15.00

Sports Bags for Tween Girls

If you are looking for a school bag for a girl who is athletic, or who will be participating in school or community sports, you may want to find a sports bag, in addition to a school bag, backpack, or messenger bag. Depending on the sport, you may just want a simple, small duffle or tote, or a larger sports bag, if there is a lot of equipment to be carried. My tween really likes the simplicity of many namebrand sports bag styles, and found coordinating tote (sackpack) and duffle which work well for her needs, one for soccer season, the other for softball.

Sports Bags for Tween and Teen Girls: Sack Packs

Organizational Issues?

School bags and sports bags for kids are important organizational tools. Having the right bag can make it easy for your child, whether elementary aged, or teen, to keep things together and stay focused. Take it from someone who struggled to stay organized through her high school years, a good school bag would have been a great idea. Unfortunately, at the time, such bags weren't commonly carried at school, and as a result, I toted what seemed like tons of school books with me to and from, class, locker, bus.
If your tween or teen is involved in sports, a sackpack is a great way to help her keep her simple sports gear separate from her books and other class related materials. Of course, if she has a lot of gear to handle, a duffle bag is more appropriate. However, a sackpack is lightweight, slings over the shoulders, and has plenty of space for a water bottle, cleats, and clothing. During the softball season, my teen daughter uses a duffel, but during soccer season, a sack pack is perfect for carrying her things.

	New Balance Women's Lace UpFor The Cure Sack Pack (Black) Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $15.00
	Pocket Two Tone DrawstringBag, Purple Amazon Price: $6.19 List Price: $10.95
	Drawstring Backpack (Purple) Amazon Price: $9.99
	New Balance Women's Lace UpFor The Cure Sack Pack (Pink) Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $15.00
	New Balance Unisex AdultEndurance Drawstring Sack Pack(Pink) Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $10.00

It's wise to instruct your tweens and teens about cautions with personal belongings, and that a sports bag does not insure safety of materials inside, nor security. Cell phones tucked in bags can still be damaged, and valuables left unattended can be stolen. If it's possible to stow belongings in a locked area during athletic practice, there's a little more security. If not, help your child to learn to be aware of the goings on in the area.
Also, be conscious of temperatures and conditions during the sporting season. While most coaches provide plenty of water, be sure your young person makes a point to drink plenty of water, even during colder weather. A good hydration bottle is sensible, as it can be refilled from team jugs, or at water fountains.

Canvas Messenger School Bags for Middle School Girls

Pink Canvas Messenger School Bags for Middle School Girls

Middle school girls have lots of adjusting to do, especially in the first year.   Transitioning from a self-contained classroom to a rotating schedule is confusing enough, but keeping books straight and homework papers organized is really challenging.  Lockers can help, but many schools limit locker visits to before and after school and lunch time in order to maintain a fast-moving transition during passing time.  When every instructional minute counts, the last thing the school wants is wandering students stalled at lockers.

A messenger is a great way to organize your middle school daughter's books and materials.  The Rothco model pictured here is of heavyweight canvas, making it durable like a military messenger bag.  Pink makes it more feminine.  The design is also available in a deep blue that's really attractive.  Your middle school girls messenger bag is great for saving her shoulders when she's carrying several books at a time.  Crossbody bags for tween girls provide a better distribution of the weight of the books.  I like the extra pouches in this model, as tween girls school bags can be tough to manage...more pouches means better options for keeping writing tools separate from papers.

Camouflage Messenger Bags for Tween Boys

Camouflage Messenger Bags for Tween Boys

When you are thinking about messenger bags for tween boys, you have to consider the environment your son will be engaged in. While many students are fine in the middle school setting, the change from being in a self-contained classroom to being in a busy and fluctuating environment will expose him to a lot of people. There's a huge amount of change going on for all students, and sometimes peer opinion can make a big difference. Maybe it shouldn't, but I've seen a lot of cruel behavior at this age range, and I've experienced it as well. Whether you are a student or a teacher, you can encounter some harsh attitudes in other children. That said, your child should be encouraged to be himself. Bullies aren't tolerable, and you need to engage your child in important discussions about his own conduct and about dealing with the conduct of others. Meanwhile, keep style in mind. A camouflage messenger bag for middle school boys is definitely not purse-like. The style pictured has compartments that enable good organization. The camo motif is popular in many circles. If you are looking for a non-camouflage style, there are many khaki and green canvas messenger school bags for boys, including those pictured below.

Canvas Military Messenger Bags for Middle School Boys

Find more military style messenger bags for middle school boys.