It’s getting to that time of year again – back to school! And this year is like starting anew in so many more ways than usual. Many students have been out of the routine of attending school and the physical demands that come with it for a whole school year! Even those who returned to campus in some capacity had reduced loads and overall time demands as compared to the typical school year. This means that having the appropriately fit backpack to maintain posture and safety and reduce risks of back pain or injury is of even higher importance! Check out our tips and reminders for making sure that you’re student starts the year off right:
How to Measure your Child for a Backpack:
- The top of the backpack should be two inches below the top of their shoulder blades
- The bottom of the backpack should be at waist level or slightly above waist level
- Pick a backpack that has padding on the shoulder straps for extra comfort
- If your child’s backpack has a hip belt, wearing it can help reduce the load from their neck and shoulders
Backpack Safety Tips:
- Ideally your child’s backpack does not weigh more than 10%-15% of their body weight
- Encourage your child to wear the shoulder straps on each shoulder to help balance out the load
- Try to distribute the weight in your child’s backpack evenly by loading the heaviest items closest to your child’s back
For more information check out our informational handout and this previous post!
