Anonymous wrote:I did for daycare/preschool because they said everything had to be labeled for the child. So I dutifully bought a backpack and filled out the internal tag with DC's name. I picked up DC and the backpack one day and they had written DC's name in Sharpie across the front of the bag. WTF. Thanks for ruining the bag, if I had known they wanted that, I would have gotten the name embroidered on there in the first place.

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That would have made me a bit pissy. It would have been so easy would it have been to write the name on masking tape and put it on the bag.

I did for daycare/preschool because they said everything had to be labeled for the child. So I dutifully bought a backpack and filled out the internal tag with DC's name. I picked up DC and the backpack one day and they had written DC's name in Sharpie across the front of the bag. WTF. Thanks for ruining the bag, if I had known they wanted that, I would have gotten the name embroidered on there in the first place.

Anonymous wrote:But even if the risk is tiny, why take it? Just because you like your preppy, LL Bean personalized backpack?

I wouldn't spend the money on a backpack with a name on the outside because you may run across a camp or school that will ask you not to use it or to cover the name with tape. Your pricey backpack won't be so cute anymore!

Schools and campscwantveverything labeled. I can't imagine a school or camp ever asking to cover a kid's name on a backpack,

Even if a person says my child's name, my child still knows who is a stranger and who is someone they know. We have rules for who she may go with and whether the person knows her name or not is not a factor. I don't worry about that at all. It wouldn't take but a minute watching a group of kids to hear all of their names being said.

That said I also drive my kids to and from school and they are never alone in a public place at this age.

If it really bothers you, have her just use it for sleepovers, dance class, etc where she is not out traveling in public.

I HIGHLY recommend this book, Protecting the Gift, for all parents and caregivers. It's full of strategies and practical information about keeping children safe.


http://gavindebecker.com/resources/book/protecting_the_gift/

I put a symbol on the backpacks instead of names -- they have them available at Lands End (horses, seahorses, skull and crossbones, etc.) -- the kids love them and they can't confuse them with others. Names go inside.

Anonymous wrote:Not safe at all. The most you should ever put is initials.

Why is it not safe?

Not safe at all. The most you should ever put is initials.

Anonymous wrote:Some coworker of my husband's said his kids had what he and his wife called "mall names" - names the kids were called out in public so no predator type would hear his kids real names. Cuckoo alert.

I need to stop thinking that surely nobody would actually do [something that seems absurdly beyond the bounds of reality to me]. Because then it always turns out that people do do it.

But even if the risk is tiny, why take it? Just because you like your preppy, LL Bean personalized backpack?

I wouldn't spend the money on a backpack with a name on the outside because you may run across a camp or school that will ask you not to use it or to cover the name with tape. Your pricey backpack won't be so cute anymore!

Some coworker of my husband's said his kids had what he and his wife called "mall names" - names the kids were called out in public so no predator type would hear his kids real names. Cuckoo alert.

Anonymous wrote:Worry about car accidents, obesity, dust under your couch.

So true.

Except for the dust under my couch. Dust won't hurt the kids! No worried about dust in this house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The reason I think its a stupid rule is that a stranger could easily just overhear your child's name. Think of how many times your kids name is said, by you, by friends, by teachers.

Obviously you're not ever supposed to use your child's name in public! A stranger might overhear! Think how bad you'd feel if something happened! (And it would be all your fault!) Why take the risk?

(Note: I do not actually believe this.)

This is why I only refer to DD as "princess baby" in public. You never do know who is listening...

Anonymous wrote:
The reason I think its a stupid rule is that a stranger could easily just overhear your child's name. Think of how many times your kids name is said, by you, by friends, by teachers.

Obviously you're not ever supposed to use your child's name in public! A stranger might overhear! Think how bad you'd feel if something happened! (And it would be all your fault!) Why take the risk?

(Note: I do not actually believe this.)

My son has his first name on his backpack. It's not like he's walking the mall or through the park with it. So not a big deal. Worry about real things, please. The way people helicopter parent these days, I'm quite sure you don't have to worry. I know, I know, you saw a kid in Nevada get abducted on CNN yesterday. That's what? 1 in a billion? Worry about car accidents, obesity, dust under your couch.