High-school seniors are carrying the same ‘Little Mermaid’ and Marvel backpacks as kindergarteners

They’re going “back” in time.

Local high-school seniors may be on the cusp of adulthood — dating, driving and applying to colleges – but they’re opting for very childish book bags for back-to-school.

Backpacks festooned with Disney characters and other kiddie cartoons have become de rigeur for the final year of secondary education.

“Everyone’s in on it – it’s such a cute thing,” said Jaiden Lipschultz, a 17-year-old high school senior in Westchester who is heading to class with a Little Mermaid backpack. “The fact that everyone does it makes it better.”

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For years, the Disney fan dressed up as mermaid Ariel for birthday parties and Halloween. The theme for her third birthday was “The Little Mermaid.”

“Her love for Ariel is real and goes way back,” said her mom, Ilyssa Lipschultz.

For the last few years, the younger Lipschultz has admired upperclassmen sporting backpacks with Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes, and Dora the Explorer, and looking forward to taking part in the trend herself.

“I knew I had to get [an Ariel backpack] for my senior year,” she told The Post.

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Friends often coordinate themes to create a perfect photo op (and social media fodder).

Lipschultz’s friend group divvied up cult favorites such as Elsa, Belle, Moana, Minnie Mouse, Sofia the First, and Care Bears so that everyone would have a distinct pack.

The tradition of students wearing kiddie backpacks for the final year of high school has been bubbling for years, but it’s been getting increasingly popular, thanks in part to social media.

On TikTok and Instagram, teens show off their immature baggage under hashtags such as #senioryear and #seniorbackpacks.

“Since the pandemic, it’s been a big thing,” said Aries Wickham, a 17-year-old Manhattanite who notes that the trend is fueled by nostalgia.

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“It’s senior year, it’s your last year and it’s a big thing to recreate kindergarten pictures when you’re doing your senior photos,” she said, adding that students often have old and current pics run side by side in the yearbook. 

Since her public school in the city requires uniforms, Wickham said that the backpack is also a key form of self-expression.

“Because of [our uniforms], people want to have more fun with other stuff,” Wickham explained.

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She’s waiting until her school announces its annual musical – usually disclosed during the first week back – before she commits to a themed bag.

Last year’s musical was “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and the absorbent animated character was a popular backpack choice at her school.

Some teens just can’t wait for their senior year. 

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For Rose Altschuler, a Long Islander starting her junior year, a family trip to Disneyland over the summer inspired her to buy a $55 “Mickey Mouse and Friends Travel Backpack.”

She’s wearing it proudly even though it’s not her final year.

“I feel like some people find it uncool to wear a character backpack, but I’m just like, ‘If you want a character backpack, you should just go for it and not care what other people think,’” she said.