When I asked my 5 year old nephew what he wanted for Christmas this year, he quickly replied, “a backpack like my big sister”. I figured that this was a mission that I was totally cut out for. Not only because it was, I thought, a simple request but also because, as a pediatric physical therapist, I have different ideas about what makes a backpack safe enough for a tiny body to carry.
Why are backpacks always so big and cumbersome, made for big bodies, not small and still growing bodies? In my school based practice, I find that these “big” bags only facilitate adding more and more stuff which makes these already giant pieces of fabric more cumbersome and heavy.
Do you know that your child shouldn’t have a backpack that weighs more than 15% of their bodyweight? How is it possible to control that weight when the original container is so big and just begging to be filled?
Someone must have been reading my mind because just a week later, we were contacted by Mr. Hoang, inventor of the Tinibag Backpack to review the product on our platform as part of their Kickstarter campaign. I, of course, was all about helping a product that supports kids and I was thrilled to receive this project on my doorstep just a few short days later.
SUPPORT THEIR KICKSTARTER HERE
I opened the box to find the cutest little Tinibag. I’ll admit that I was perplexed at first. I thought that there was no way that this small bag, weighing just over a half of a pound could manage to carry all of the things my nephew would want to put inside. I was wrong!
This small backpack has a waterproof pocket that is perfect for messy or damp clothes after a ooey-gooey sensory bin session. This same pocket, which appears to have insulated material, can also be used to carry a Bento Box or snacks and a juice box for after school.
The main compartment has a “U” shaped zipper that makes for easy access and a clear visual of what is stored inside. In this compartment is also a mesh pocket for all of the little extras that kids seem to like to stash and carry.
There is even a small, secret compartment on top for the items that need to be kept close at hand like a house key or school ID card.
I especially love the side pocket with a belt system that keeps a water bottle secure so that it doesn’t fall out. A problem I constantly had with my kids and the larger backpack options. GENIUS!
All of these compartments and pockets help distribute the weight of the items inside evenly and the small shell with all of the spaces inside helps to keep kids organized versus bigger counterparts with just one large pocket that just gets things piled in one on top of another.
The best part about the Tinibag is the Paker system! A collection of tiny patches that let’s a child personalize their backpack and that can be interchanged for holidays, special occasions or just personality!
Tinibag comes in 4 different colors including blue, black, pink and mint blue. It can be carried 3 different ways. Your child can throw it on like a traditional backpack, sling it like a crossbody bag, or just carry it on their shoulder. The Tinibag also integrates easily via a magnetic strap system to it’s larger counterpart, the Tinibox Backpack so that your child has a complete system that could carry any and everything their little heart desires. And, this little bag is so well created that if it’s dropped, it’s balanced shape helps to keep it upright.
I gave the Tinibag to my nephew to get his honest review. You know kids say the darndest things! Well, he proceeded to open up every compartment and I could just see his little brain working on overdrive to think about what he would stash in his new backpack. He looked up at me with his big, blue eyes and said, “this backpack is wayyyyyy cooler than my sister’s and it is just the right size for me!”
I won the best auntie award this holiday season and you can too! Check out Tinibag and support their Kickstarter campaign so that we can get appropriately sized backpacks for little bodies out in this world.
SUPPORT TINIBAG’S KICKSTARTER HERE
