Forget pencil cases, it’s iPads for back-to-school kids

ONCE, pupils might return to school after the summer holidays with a brand new pencil case in their bags. These days, it’s more likely to be a tablet.

A survey found that 55 per cent of children are given an iPad or similar device as they head back to school, compared with 46 per cent who get a pencil case.

It also emerged that fewer children walk to school now, down from 81 per cent in their parents’ schooldays to 6 per cent now. And almost one in three now listen to music on the way instead of chatting with friends as their parents used to.

Children are also far less likely to have a tuck shop at their school. Only 6 per cent said their school has a shop selling treats, compared with 6 per cent of their parents. And three-quarters of schools now have a healthy lunchbox policy, with many insisting on a low-sugar packed meal.

The poll of 1,097 mothers and fathers for parenting site ChannelMum.com also suggests that children are more connected to their friends than in the past – at least electronically.

While 68 per cent of parents said they rushed back to school to catch up with friends they hadn’t seen for the six-week break, the figure today is 2 per cent. This is because modern children are in daily contact with friends on social media.

Uniforms are another area of change. A third of parents wore hand-me downs, while only 14 per cent of children do so now. Instead, 68 per cent are kitted out with the latest high-tech, Teflon-coated uniforms from supermarket ranges.

Some things have not changed, however. Four in five children say they are ‘excited’ to be going back to school, the same as in their parents’ day.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, said: ‘Six weeks is a long break and kids are looking forward to going back – with many parents feeling the same!’