HEALTH
With school back in session for the year, there are several things we can do as parents to keep our children safe. Backpack safety is one of the most common as it can lead to neck/back pain. Some children may arch their back or lean forward to compensate for the weight of their backpack leading to increased stress on the neck and back muscles/joints. Here are some tips to help your children wear their backpack correctly.
• The backpack should only weigh about 10-20% of your child’s weight.
• Always use both well-padded straps to distribute the weight of the backpack.
• Pick a backpack with a padded back to help keep the load comfortable against the child’s back.
• Consider a backpack with a chest or waist strap for extra support.
• Only take the things that are needed for that school day. Leave anything extra at home.
• Tighten the straps to keep the backpack close to the body limiting any swaying.
• The bottom of the backpack should not be more than 4 inches below the waistline.
• Pick a backpack with several compartments to help distribute the weight throughout the bag.
• When packing the backpack, keep the heavier items towards the back and in middle of the backpack.
• Teach children to always lift their backpack with their knees.
We hope these tips can help you and your child pick the right backpack. Wishing you and your children a healthy and happy school year!!
For more tips, see: https://www.orthopedicsri.com/blog-items/backpack-safety-tips/
