Backpack Safety
Summer is coming to an end and that means it’s is that time of year…back to school shopping! Navigating down rows of paper supplies, picking out the perfect lunch box or choosing their favorite new pair of shoes. A new school year means new school supplies that your child will need. It can be fun for your child to load up on all their favorite supplies for the year but it is important to remember to avoid over packing their backpacks and that the backpack should “fit” them. This means the backpack should not be wider than their body and it should not hang more than one hand width below their waist. Students should ALWAYS use both straps to distribute the weight evenly and using the chest strap or waist strap will help to keep the backpack secure as well. Straps should be adjusted/tightened so that the backpack does not hang too low and it should have padded should straps.
A new backpack is a great way to get your child motivated and prepared for heading back to school. However, your child’s backpack should be no more than 10% of their body weight. A typical High school student’s backpacks generally weigh more than 15 pounds! Heavier backpacks will actually put your child at risk for falls or an orthopedic injury. No matter how a backpack is designed, lighter is better and proper wear and positioning of the backpack is crucial for their safety
Here are a few helpful hints for keeping your child’s backpack at a safe weight.
Organize: Children’s personalities are all different which in turn means different organizational habits. Helping them organize their personal space will help to reduce clutter and the overall weight of their backpack. Using small compartments to group items together, eliminating trash or creating a space at home to keep unneeded textbooks/assignments can be great ways to help get them organized.
Distribute: What is necessary to be carried daily? What do they need for the upcoming school week or weekend? Not all schools have lockers/personal storage space available but if your child’s school does then set them up for success. Help them by making a plan of items to stay in the storage space, items to stay at home and items to stay in the backpack. The more items that are stored at home or at school means less carried items on their back.
Have fun! Choosing a backpack should be a fun experience for the family. Backpacks are a great way to show off a child’s personality and individuality. Educate your child on the importance of a safe backpack and allow them to ask questions and express their needs to you. This will help them take ownership of the process and their health.
A rolling backpack may seem like a good choice to avoid these issues. Though this is an option for decreasing the strain on their back, it offers it’s own challenges. Kids tend to twist their trunk to pull on the rolling backpack. Repeated twisting while pulling a heavy backpack can cause strain on your child’s back. Rolling backpacks may also become a tripping hazard in a crowded hallway.
Below is a helpful infographic from the American Occupational Therapy Association’s “1, 2, 3’s of Basic Backpack Wearing” to help you and your family better prepare for how to pack, how to adjust and how to safely put on their backpacks:
For more information on backpack safety for your child during the school year, please contact us at any time.
Happy back to school shopping!
Aubrey Kohler OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Aubrey@collaborativecorner.org
Susan Robins PT
Pediatric Physical Therapist
Susan@collaborativecorner.org