|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

School Backpacks Health Issues

Students carry everything they need for school on their backs, from books and notebooks to pens, pencils and calculators. Although your child may beg for a trendy, one-strap backpack, stand your ground and only buy two-strap bags. Two straps allow better weight distribution, which can decrease the possibility your child will develop backpack-related health issues.

  1. Health Problems

    • Wearing a poorly fitted backpack or one that's too heavy can cause pain in a child's back, shoulders or neck. Backpacks can't cause long-term damage to the bones or joints, nor can they curve a child's spine in a condition known as scoliosis. However, students sometimes lean forward to bear the weight of their backpacks, an act which can lead their shoulders or upper back to round. Wearing a backpack that's too heavy can also increase the likelihood that a child will lose his balance and fall, which increases his risk for injury.

    Safety Guidelines

    • The backpack your child carries should not weigh more than 15 percent of his body weight when filled, recommends the American Occupational Therapy Association. Weigh it on the bathroom scale for an exact measurement. A backpack should have two straps and a waist strap. Look for thick, cushy shoulder pads to insulate your child's shoulders from the weight. Tighten straps so that the pack fits snugly against the body, and have your child use the waist strap if the pack is heavy.

    Packing the Backpack

    • Take advantage of all the backpack's compartments to evenly distribute its contents. Pencils can be tucked away in smaller compartments, along with calculators and any small, paperback books. In the largest compartment, stack the heaviest books at the back of the pack, so that they lie closest to the child's back. Organize other materials to keep them in place as much as possible. Any movement could lead to a stray book poking into a child's back and make him uncomfortable.

    Other Solutions

    • Have your child carry home only the books he needs to complete homework. Other books can be left in school. Have your child ask his teacher for spare books, if possible, so he can use one in the classroom and take the other home for homework. If you child can use a locker, he should return there frequently during the day to return books and gather the ones needed for the next class. Ultimately, your child should only carry the necessities and nothing extra.

Childrens Health - Related Articles