Back to School means back into the wallets for parents

The average child's school bag can contain nearly £400 worth of kit, supplies, and electronics, according to a survey by Direct Line Home Insurance. Today's school bags contain items of much greater expense compared to previous generations, and the cost of replacing just a few of these things, if lost, can easily cost hundreds of pounds.

Nearly half (40%) of school children regularly carry a mobile phone with them, and one in five (18%) have an mp3 player in their school bag. Even more costly are the video game players carried by one in twenty (5%) of the nation's schoolchildren.

According to the study, the other, more standard items carried in school bags are books (80%), lunch boxes (66%) and gym kit (62%). Add to that the cost of a school uniform, blazer, and trainers, and suddenly it's apparent that children are carrying a high value of possessions when travelling to and from school. The cost of these basics alone can take parents by surprise, with the replacement costs adding up to nearly £100 before taking into account any of the optional items children might take with them, such as mobiles, mp3 players and video game players.

Andrew Lowe, Head of Home Insurance at Direct Line, says: "Everyone knows that children are expensive, but this survey shows how quickly costs can add up these days, when there's more in their school bag than books and an apple for the teacher.

"Many children misplace even their favourite things, so it's inevitable that school basics will get lost as well. It's a good idea to record your child's name inside their books and clothes, as schools often have piles of lost items but can't return them if they are unlabelled.

"Parents should keep an eye on what their children take to school, because the cost of replacing anything that gets lost or stolen can be high. Personal possessions cover on a home insurance policy ensures your children's favourite things are protected, so it's worth checking your policy."