First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for our 8 year-old 3rd grader. It was also the day our 3 year old stayed from childcare because he quite possibly has hand-foot-mouth disease which is caused by a coxsackievirus and the fact that he is the world worst hand washer. It's also the day I returned the loaner car to the dealership and got my car back. It's also the first time my child got in the car and asked for a new backpack. I bought an owl backpack from Hanna Andersson for the start of kindergarten. Sure, there are kids that bring new backpacks every year but I prided myself on reusing perfectly good supplies because I don't want her to turn into a materialist-classist-entitled brat. But will I force her to be obsessed by material things if I don't provide them?

Experience is something we really try to encourage. I'd like to think our kids will develop an appreciation for swimming lessons, ski passes, music lessons and travel. 

I gave up picking out her clothing this last year because in reality I wanted her to dress the way I wanted her to dress which doesn't resonate with her as it's much younger looking than she prefers. She's into skinny jeans and t-shirts with flannels, so it's not like she's breaking our modesty code. But if she picks out her clothes and I approve, she's more likely to wear them than the things I pick and gift to her. 

What do you do? New backpack every year? Reuse last years? 

Do you even think it matters to their long term development?