Our guide to the first school year: what we didn’t expect as parents

Probably nobody can prepare you for the moment your child lets go of your hand for the first time and, with a school satchel on their back, marches into school as if it were nothing. It’s a strangely bittersweet feeling. You’re incredibly proud, but at the same time you realise they no longer need you at every step.

We’re parents ourselves. Several of us at our company have been through it. And when we sat down and started collecting what really caught us off guard in the first school year, we found that almost none of it was in any “handbook”. Not even ours. So here it is — not a list of tips, but an honest catalogue of surprises. Maybe you’ll recognise yourself in it too.

What we were afraid of — and in the end it wasn’t a problem at all

Will he have enough energy? Will he manage to sit still at his desk? Will he drink enough water? Will the school satchel be too heavy for him?

Most of the worries that bothered us all summer before school started melted away within the first two weeks. Children at this age are incredibly adaptable. Far more adaptable than we are. Our son got used to getting up early faster than we got used to making snacks at six in the morning. And the school backpack? He adjusted it correctly himself before we’d even read the instructions. Kids just figure it out.

But other worries came along…

What caught us off guard — and nobody talks about it much

Tiredness that looks like anger

The teacher only told us this at the first parents’ meeting, and we wish she’d told us sooner. The first months of school are more cognitively demanding for a six-year-old than anything they’ve experienced so far. A new environment, new rules, new relationships — all at once. And that tiredness doesn’t show up as the child falling asleep on the sofa. It shows up as irritability, crying over little things, sometimes even aggression.

At first we got it wrong. We looked for a cause where there wasn’t one. All it took was accepting that a little schoolchild simply needs more calm and fewer after-school activities. At least at the beginning.

The moment they no longer need you to walk them in

One day they’ll say: “You don’t have to come all the way to the door.” It’ll happen sooner than you expect. For some it’s in October, for others not until after Christmas. But it will happen — you stand a little way off and watch the small back with its backpack disappear down the corridor — and you feel pride and sadness at the same time.

What pleasantly surprised us — and what we didn’t expect would move us

The first independent decision

It was something trivial — he chose for himself which pencil case he wanted. Not the one we suggested. Not the one from the advert. Just a different one. And when you ask him why, he gives a reason that only makes sense to him. That’s the moment you realise: here’s a person growing up with an opinion of his own.

Things they learn without you

One day they come home and say a word you don’t use at home. Or explain something to a younger sibling. Or pack their school backpack themselves — and forget nothing. Three days in a row. You realise that someone else is now doing part of the upbringing, and it works.

What we’d tell ourselves last August

Don’t buy everything on the list on the very first day. Half of it will change by October. Don’t sign your child up for four after-school clubs at once — better to keep the first term lighter. And above all: stop googling “is my child ready for school”. They are. And so are you.

Our recommendation: choose a school backpack that lasts and doesn’t strain the back. Not because we say so — but because a six-year-old’s spine feels a weight of 940 grams versus one and a half kilos every single day. The 4-year warranty is a bonus. The fact that your child enjoys wearing the backpack matters more.

One practical list — not of tips, but of things that would have helped us back then

• Have a lunch box at home that your child can open on their own — without the teacher’s help
• Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to
• Read up on how to handle the move from nursery to first grade — but without stress, just for inspiration
• Prepare one sentence for the moments when your child says “I don’t want to go to school” (ours worked: “Sometimes I don’t want to go to work either. Let’s give it a try.”)
• Trust the teacher more than advice on the internet

Frequently asked questions

How heavy should a first-grader’s school backpack be?

BECKMANN school backpacks for grades 1–5 weigh 940–1250 grams. The general recommendation is that a light backpack is the basis, but then you pack a one-litre bottle of drink for your child, and a 100 g difference in the weight of the backpack or satchel suddenly doesn’t matter that much. What really matters is how well the backpack can transfer the weight from the shoulders to the hips. And in that respect, BECKMANN backpacks are among the world leaders.

What features should a first-grader’s school backpack have?

For backpacks for grades 1–5, look for ergonomic back padding — for example, our range of school backpacks has an AirFlow cushion with an inflatable back, a reversible 2-in-1 pocket and an integrated rain cover. A chest strap and hip belt to distribute the weight are also important. A detailed guide to choosing a school satchel for first grade is available in our advice section.

When is the best time to buy a school backpack before starting first grade?

The ideal time is the summer before school starts — June to August. You have the widest choice of designs and sizes, and your child can try the backpack on calmly at home. We dispatch within 24 hours and you have 45 days to return it, so you don’t have to worry about it not fitting.

How many years does a quality school backpack last?

All BECKMANN school backpacks come with a 4-year warranty. We know from parents’ feedback that the backpacks commonly last through all of grades 1–5 and are then passed on to a younger sibling. The Norwegian brand with 80 years of tradition relies on materials that can handle cleaning and everyday wear.

If you’re reading this article now and September is just a few weeks away — that’s OK. You can’t prepare for everything. You can’t deal with every situation in advance. And that’s how it should be. Some things you’ll only figure out as you go. And most of them will turn out better than you expected.