The Perfect Gift for the First Day of School—and Why, After Three Kids, I Finally Have the Answer
I have three daughters: Irene, Jean, and Veronika. They’re teenagers now; they have their own ideas about life and usually know pretty exactly what they want. But of course, they, too, were once six years old—with school backpacks that were way too big on their backs, a mix of anticipation and excitement in their bellies, and a whole new world ahead of them.
And I was the mom who asked myself the same question every time my child started school: What should I get my child for the first day of school?
Not just any little trinket for the back-to-school goodie bag. Not necessarily something big or expensive, either. But something special. A gift that brings joy, that doesn’t end up forgotten in some drawer after a few weeks, and that might even help a little as they grow up.
"It's not really that difficult of a task," I thought.
Three children and three first-day-of-school experiences later, I see things a little differently.
Because before I figured out what makes a really good first-day-of-school gift for me, I had to gain some experience first. And not all of those experiences were particularly successful.
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What should you give a child as a gift for their first day of school?
The first day of school is a special moment. On the one hand, it’s a big celebration. The children receive their school goodie bags, the family gathers, photos are taken, and everyone is looking forward to this new chapter in their lives.
On the other hand, there are quite a few changes happening for the kids right now.
From one day to the next, they're schoolchildren. There are new rules, new people, and new expectations. They have to sit still, listen, concentrate, and find their place in a group they may not even know very well yet.
And right in the middle of it all are us—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or godparents—wondering what gift might be just right for this special day.
It's easy to come up with the usual gift ideas: a pencil case, books, educational games, a special pen, a watch, a nice backpack, or something for the child's room.
All nice things. And some of them can actually be quite useful.
But I always felt that a gift for the first day of school should be something different from the things a child needs for school anyway.
A school backpack is important. Sure. But it's still just a school backpack.
An educational game can be great. But does every back-to-school gift really have to be about learning?
And how do you find something that a child will not only enjoy on the first day, but that will still be interesting weeks and months later?
In any case, I didn't manage to do it on my first try.
Three first days of school, three gifts—and a few insights
I wanted to give Irene, my oldest daughter, a gift that was both beautiful and practical.
I decided to get a lamp for her room—one she could use later to read by comfortably. I thought it was a wonderful idea. After all, a lamp like that will last for years. And once she could read on her own, she’d surely understand what a great gift it was.
Irene saw it a little differently.
She thanked her politely and then showed much more interest in the toy her friend had received.
I can't blame her for it today.
What did I expect, anyway? There's a six-year-old girl who's just starting school, and I give her a lamp. A very nice lamp, admittedly. But still, just a lamp.
I wanted to do better with Jean.
This time, the gift definitely had to be something she could keep herself busy with. Something that's fun and maybe even educational at the same time.
I bought a large jigsaw puzzle.
That looked promising. Lots of pieces, a beautiful design, something to keep us busy for many afternoons together.
The reality, however, turned out to be a little less romantic.
I started the puzzle and then put it away at some point. I never finished it. I think it's still lying around somewhere in a drawer.
And then Veronika came along.
Through her, I had come to realize that there is sometimes a world of difference between what we adults consider a good gift and what truly excites children.
Even so, it took me a while to find the answer.
And, of all things, I had developed that myself.
What Kids Really Need When They Start School
When I think back today on my daughters’ first days of school, I naturally remember the wonderful moments: the excitement that morning, the anticipation, the school goodie bags, and the many little stories from those first days of school.
But I also remember those afternoons.
To children who came home and were just tired. Or hyper. Or both at the same time.
There were days when everything went wonderfully, and others when this new world suddenly seemed quite exhausting.
It really is a big change, after all.
In preschool, the children were still able to play a lot, move around, and pursue their own interests. In school, the daily routine is much more structured. Of course, there are breaks and opportunities for physical activity, but there’s also a lot of sitting and listening.
And for some children, that's more exhausting than we adults sometimes realize.
I noticed something then that I still find important today: Kids don't necessarily need more activities after school. Sometimes they just need a chance to burn off their energy.
Not with a new assignment. Not with yet another educational game. And not always with a well-meaning conversation about how the school day went.
Sometimes they just want to play, run around, run, or jump.
First, move; then talk
Maybe you've experienced this, too.
You pick up your child from school and ask how their day went.
"Good."
What did you guys do?
"Nothing."
And a few hours later, when no one is asking about it anymore, the stories suddenly come out.
Who's sitting next to whom. Which kid said something funny today. What happened during recess. And what the teacher actually meant.
I think children often need a little time to wind down after a long day at school.
Exercise has always been helpful for my daughters.
Not because exercise would solve all problems. That would, of course, be too simple. But because it’s good for you when your body gets to do something different after a lot of concentration.
And because children often find a balance all on their own.
How the Punching Bag Became Part of Our Family Life
The story about the punching bag didn't actually start with the question of a back-to-school gift.
I had already developed a punching bag for adults back then.
From the very beginning, my goal with Snekkerbuks has been to create items that not only work well but are also beautiful. Products that people enjoy using, that are well-made, and that don't need to be replaced after just a short time.
The punching bag was exactly that kind of product.
I wanted to design a punching bag that would look good in a home. One that doesn't look like it belongs in a gym and that you wouldn't immediately want to hide when guests come over.
And of course, it should be able to take a beating. After all, that's the whole point of a punching bag.
One day, a punching bag like that was hanging in my workshop.
Veronika was seven years old at the time.
She spotted it and just started punching it.
No elaborate program. No training session. No instructions on how many strokes she should take or how long she had to practice.
She just felt like doing it.
I let them do it and watched.
And then I realized just how much joy it brought her.
She was able to really let off some steam. Sometimes she’d punch harder, sometimes more carefully. She got to see what it felt like to punch something with her hands that was made for that very purpose.
But what was interesting wasn't just that she enjoyed it.
It was also what happened afterward.
Veronika often seemed more relaxed. Sometimes she was more open to talking afterward. And most importantly, she kept coming back to the punching bag on her own.
I didn't have to remind her of that.
The punching bag was just there. And whenever she felt like it, she'd go over and throw a few punches.
For me, it was one of those little observations in everyday family life where you suddenly think, “Oh, that’s interesting. That actually works really well.”
And at some point, it occurred to me that something like that might be nice for other children, too.
Not just for Veronika.
A kids' punching bag as a back-to-school gift? Why not!
Admittedly, when you think of typical back-to-school gifts, a punching bag probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind.
Maybe a book. A wristwatch. A board game. Or something nice for the desk.
But a punching bag?
That sounds unusual at first.
Actually, I now find the idea pretty obvious.
After all, a kids' punching bag isn't just another toy that kids have to figure out how to use. You don't need complicated instructions, and you don't have to gather all the pieces together every time.
The punching bag is hanging there, and whenever the child feels like it, they can get started.
Sometimes five minutes, sometimes longer.
Sometimes with lots of energy, sometimes just for fun.
And unlike some games, there's no specific outcome that needs to be achieved. No one wins or loses. There's nothing that needs to be finished.
The child can just try something out.
I think that's a nice thing, especially at the start of the school year. Because at school, there are suddenly a whole lot of things that can be right or wrong.
It's nice to have something at home where that doesn't matter.
A gift that doesn't look like something from school
What I especially like about this gift idea is that a punching bag has absolutely nothing to do with school.
And that's exactly why I think it's such a good fit for the first day of school.
After all, starting school doesn't mean that, from now on, everything in a child's life has to revolve solely around learning.
It's still just a child.
With a desire to move, curiosity, a love of trying new things, and sometimes even a healthy excess of energy.
A gift for the first day of school can therefore certainly be something that supports this aspect.
Something that brings joy without having to serve an educational purpose.
Even though physical activity, coordination, and trying out new movement patterns are, of course, all part of the experience.
Why I Think It's Great When Kids Box
Some parents are a little surprised at first when I mention a punching bag for kids.
Boxing? For kids?
When I think of children's boxing, the first thing that comes to mind isn't a martial art or a competition.
I'm thinking about exercise.
The feeling of being able to create something with your own hands and your own body.
To a child who is testing how hard they can hit. Who may realize that a movement becomes easier with a little practice. Who is getting to know their body in a different way.
And, of course, the fun of it all.
After all, children have very different ways of moving.
Some kids love to play soccer. Others climb every tree they can find. Some dance around the living room, while others ride their scooters around the neighborhood for hours.
And some people just enjoy punching a punching bag.
Neither one is better than the other.
For me, it's mainly about giving children the opportunity to find something they like.
By the way, I also think it's important that we don't get too caught up in the usual categories when it comes to gifts like these.
A punching bag isn't automatically a gift for boys.
My daughters are the best example of how girls can also really enjoy it.
What to do with all that energy after school?
There are days when kids come home and clearly still have a lot of energy left.
And there are days when they're tired, annoyed by something, or just not in a very good mood.
Not every bad mood needs to be addressed right away. And not every feeling needs a solution right away.
Sometimes it helps just to do something different.
Go outside. Play. Get moving.
For us, the punching bag became one of those options.
What I liked about it was how natural it felt.
It didn't take much effort. No joint planning, no special preparation. Veronika could decide for herself when she felt like it.
And I think there's something valuable in that: children should be allowed to figure out for themselves what's good for them.
Of course, a punching bag isn't a magic cure for school stress. It's no substitute for rest, talking things out, or spending time with your parents.
But it can be a way to burn off some energy and do something completely different after a tiring day.
And sometimes that's quite a lot.
A back-to-school gift that will bring joy for longer than just a few weeks
When I'm picking out a gift for a school-age child these days, I think about it differently than I used to.
I no longer just wonder if the child will be happy when unwrapping the gift.
Of course, that's nice. After all, a gift is supposed to bring joy.
But I also wonder what happens after that.
Is it actually being used? Does it have a place in everyday life? Is it something that might still be interesting six months from now?
And will it even last that long?
Over the years, I've seen many toys come and go.
Some things were incredibly popular, were taken everywhere for a few days, and then suddenly lost their appeal.
Other things have been with us for years.
Of course, it's not always possible to know in advance why that is.
But I get the impression that toys that children can play with in different ways often stay interesting for a particularly long time.
A punching bag is one such item.
For a younger child, the focus may initially be on playful experimentation. Later on, the movements become more deliberate, and the child may even want to learn proper boxing techniques.
So, the way it is used may change as the child grows.
Of course, no one knows how long a particular gift will actually be cherished. But I think it's nice when a product at least has the potential to be cherished.
Why Quality Is So Important to Me When It Comes to a Kids' Punching Bag
When I started developing products for Snekkerbuks, one thing was especially important to me: I wanted to make things that would last a long time.
Not products that go out of style after one season.
Not things you throw away as soon as a small part breaks.
Rather, well-made items that people enjoy owning and using—and can repair when necessary.
I love materials that feel good to the touch. I appreciate beautiful craftsmanship. And I’m always delighted when a product doesn’t just get older over the years, but develops its own story.
I have the same expectation when it comes to children's punching bags.
Our Snekkerbuks JUNIOR LINE is handcrafted in my studio in Amsterdam. We use genuine leather and take pride in our meticulous craftsmanship.
That's especially important when it comes to a punching bag.
After all, it's not just there to look pretty.
It's meant to be used. And used properly.
At the same time, I think that even an item meant for play or exercise can still look nice. To me, a children's punching bag doesn't necessarily have to be made of brightly colored plastic just because it's intended for kids.
I like it when things fit naturally into a home.
And if they don't have to disappear again as soon as the kids get a little older.
Is a kids' punching bag the right gift for every school-age child?
Of course not.
I don't think there's any gift that every child would really like, anyway.
Some children can spend hours drawing. Others love to build complicated structures. Still others spend every free minute outdoors.
And that's a good thing.
If you're looking for a meaningful gift for a child starting school, I would therefore first think about what the child enjoys doing.
Does it like to move?
Do you like trying new things?
Do they enjoy jumping, climbing, balancing, or working up a sweat?
In that case, a kids' punching bag might be a good fit.
A child doesn't have to be particularly athletic. Nor does he or she need any prior experience with boxing.
You should simply feel like moving in this way.
Of course, it’s also important to choose the right model, ensure it’s securely fastened, and use it in a way that’s appropriate for the child’s age and abilities. Adults should supervise younger children in particular and make sure the equipment is suitable.
And one more thing: I would never give a punching bag as a gift to teach a child that they need to find another way to manage their emotions.
To me, that would send the wrong message.
A punching bag is not meant to be a disciplinary tool.
It's supposed to be fun.
A first-day-of-school gift from Grandma, Grandpa, or the godparents—how about something special?
Many grandparents, godparents, or other family members would like to give a gift for the child's first day of school that will have meaning beyond that first day.
I understand that very well.
After all, starting school is a special milestone. And if you're not the parent yourself, you might have the chance to give a gift that isn't necessarily on the list of school supplies.
However, especially when it comes to a larger gift, I think it makes sense to check with the parents first.
This is especially true for a children's punching bag, of course.
Is there a suitable place for it? How can it be securely fastened? Does the gift even fit into the family's daily routine?
And above all: Is it something the child would really enjoy?
After all, even the most beautiful gift is of little use if there's no place for it after the child starts school or if it's hardly ever used.
It might also be a nice idea for several family members to get together and choose a special gift as a group.
Personally, I like this idea better than having everyone buy a little something just so there's something on the gift table.
In the end, it's not really about the number of gifts.
What makes for a meaningful back-to-school gift?
If someone asked me today what I would give as a first-day-of-school gift, the first things that come to mind are a few simple things.
The gift should be appropriate for the child.
Not to our ideas about what it should actually be doing, but to what it really likes.
It's okay for something to be enjoyable without having to be useful.
Children learn enough at school. Not every gift needs to have an educational purpose as well.
It should be usable for as long as possible.
I think it's nicer to pick out one well-chosen gift than to buy several things that will lose their appeal after a short time.
And it can be something special.
Not necessarily expensive or out of the ordinary. But something you might not have just bought on a whim.
A gift you'll fondly remember.
For some children, it's a special book. For others, it's a bicycle, a musical instrument, or a beautiful box full of arts and crafts supplies.
And for kids who love to be active, it could just as easily be a punching bag.
What I Would Do Differently After Three Years of Helping Children Start School
Today, with three teenage daughters, I look back on some of the decisions I made back then with a smile.
The lamp for Irene.
The puzzle for Jean.
And then there was Veronika, who spotted a punching bag in my workshop and, almost in passing, showed me something I might have overlooked while searching for a good gift.
During the first two years of school, I had mainly been thinking about what would be best for the next phase of life.
A lamp for reading. A puzzle to help you think and concentrate.
Basically, I wanted to give a gift that would be suitable for a school-age child.
I probably should have given more thought to what my children need besides school.
Something to play with. Something to experiment with. Something that lets them decide for themselves what to do with it.
Of course, I wouldn't go so far as to say that my daughters missed out on anything without their lamp or their puzzle.
And I'm sure even a punching bag wouldn't have made every exhausting afternoon any better.
But I know now that I would make a different choice.
Rather than what I, as an adult, consider particularly sensible.
And focus more on what the children actually enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gifts for the First Day of School
What can you give a child as a gift for their first day of school?
Popular gifts for the first day of school include books, games, watches, art supplies, or items for the child’s room. Active gifts, such as a scooter, a jump rope, or a children’s punching bag, can also be great choices. The key is to consider what the child enjoys doing and whether the gift will still bring them joy even after their first day of school.
What's a good gift for a child starting school?
A meaningful first-day-of-school gift doesn't necessarily have to help with learning. Something that encourages physical activity, creativity, or independent play can also be meaningful. I especially like gifts that are well-made and can be used for a long time.
Is a punching bag suitable for first-graders?
A punching bag designed specifically for children can be a great way for elementary school-aged children to get some exercise. It is important that the size and design are appropriate for the child, that it is securely mounted, and that it is used in a manner appropriate for the child’s age with proper supervision.
Is a kids' punching bag also a good gift for girls?
Of course! Boxing isn't just for boys. Whether a girl or a boy enjoys hitting a punching bag depends on their personal interests. In any case, my own daughters have shown me that when it comes to gifts that encourage physical activity, you don't have to think in those terms.
What kind of back-to-school gift will be remembered for a long time?
Of course, there’s no way to predict that. But often, it’s precisely the things that children associate with their own experiences that they’ll fondly remember later on. A gift that’s used regularly and becomes part of their daily life for years to come has, at the very least, a good chance of doing just that.
My conclusion: The best gift for the start of school doesn't have to have anything to do with school
If I were facing Irene's first day of school all over again today, I would do some things differently.
I probably wouldn't worry so much about which gift is particularly educational.
I wouldn't look for things that prepare them as well as possible for learning.
After all, that's what school is for.
I would think about what she enjoys. What makes her feel comfortable. What she'd like to use even on a regular Tuesday afternoon after school.
And yes, I would most likely give a children's punching bag as a gift.
Not because I think every child should definitely take up boxing. But because I saw with Veronika how wonderful it can be when a child discovers an opportunity like that for themselves.
No pressure. No expectations. Just for the joy of movement.
By the way, that's also one of the reasons why Snekkerbuks' kids' punching bags are so close to my heart.
I didn't develop it because I thought children needed yet another product.
But because I've seen firsthand in our own family life just how much joy such a simple object can bring.
And because I think that things children enjoy using should also be well-made.
So if you're looking for a special gift for a child starting school, don't just think about backpacks, books, and pens.
Think also of the child who comes home after his or her first day of school.
Who has experienced so many new things. Who might be tired, might be excited, and might just want to start playing again right away.
Because even as we look forward to school, there’s one thing we shouldn’t forget:
A schoolchild is still a child.
And sometimes the best gift is one that's just plain fun.
Snekkerbuks JUNIOR LINE
Our children's punching bags are handcrafted from genuine leather in my studio in Amsterdam. They're designed for kids who love to be active, enjoy trying new things, and want to really let off some steam every now and then.
