Kindergarten Start 2026: Personalized Backpacks, Lunch Boxes, Water Bottles & Checklist

The typical basic equipment includes a small kindergarten backpack, a lunch box, a drinking bottle, slippers, and a change of clothes.

Depending on the facility, mud clothing, rain boots, sleeping clothes, toiletries, or a cuddly toy may also be required.

The backpack should fit the child's height and offer enough space for a lunch box, drinking bottle, and small personal items.

Particularly important are a low dead weight, adjustable shoulder straps, and a chest strap for a secure fit.

For many kindergarten children, a compact backpack with approximately four to eight liters of volume is sufficient. However, it's not just the liter capacity that's crucial, but above all the fit.

The backpack should not be wider than the back and should be comfortable to carry even when full.

Suitable items include sandwiches, diced fruit, vegetables, and simple snacks that your child can eat independently.

Please note any guidelines from the facility as well as known allergies and intolerances.

A suitable drinking bottle should be lightweight, robust, easy to clean, and easy for small children to open independently.

It should also fit securely in the backpack. Always observe the manufacturer's instructions for suitable drinks and cleaning.

In kindergartens and daycare centers, many backpacks, lunch boxes, and drinking bottles look similar. A clearly visible personalization makes identification easier.

For children, their own name can also help them to recognize their personal item more quickly.

It is particularly useful to label frequently used and easily confused items.

• ✓ Kindergarten backpack
• ✓ Lunch box and drinking bottle
• ✓ Jackets and change of clothes
• ✓ Slippers and rain boots
• ✓ Cuddly toy and sleepwear

It makes sense to select the most important items a few weeks before the start of kindergarten. This leaves enough time for personalization and shipping.

Your child can also get to know and try out the backpack, lunchbox, and drinking bottle before the first day.

Popular and practical gifts include a personalized kindergarten backpack, a lunch box with a name, or a matching drinking bottle.

Small keepsakes or a familiar companion for settling in are also suitable as a gift for starting kindergarten.

Often, not all the equipment is needed directly on the first day. During the settling-in period, a backpack, lunch box, drinking bottle, slippers, and a change of clothes are often sufficient.

Check with the facility beforehand about which items should be brought immediately and which only later.

Talk positively and age-appropriately about the new daily routine. It's also helpful to walk the path to the facility together beforehand.

Let your child pack the new backpack themselves and try opening the lunchbox and drinking bottle. This makes the new items familiar even before the first day of kindergarten.

At Schmatzepuffer, you'll find selected kindergarten backpacks, lunch boxes, and drinking bottles, which can be individually personalized with names for many models.

You can find the entire selection via our Theme world for starting kindergarten .