Back to school time means new shoes, uniforms and a new school bag. Backpacks can be tricky. Many schools allow only certain bags, but when the choice is left up to students looks is often more important than function. Your child’s school backpack will probably be the hardest-working item in your back to school shopping. Carrying a backpack over the course of a school career shapes your growing child’s back and determines their posture. The backpack will be used every day to take items to and from school. It needs to withstand daily use including traveling to and from school, locker storage, and the rough treatment that children dish out on their belongings.
Children will want to “look cool” and choose the trendiest bag, but parents should urge function over looks. A standard two-strap backpack is better than shoulder or messenger bags. Two straps help distribute the weight of the bag evenly, instead of placing it entirely on one shoulder. You might be tempted to buy a backpack that is inexpensive and trendy, and just assume that if you have any problems that you will be able to replace it. Backpacks also need to be fitted and adjusted properly and regularly as your child grows. Backpacks must be worn properly and shouldn’t be excessively heavy. The problem is that you probably won’t be able to find a good backpack easily after the back-to-school sale season.
Kids these days have to carry quite a bit of stuff to the school, making their backpacks considerably heavy. The standard rule is that a child shouldn’t carry a backpack that exceeds 10%-15% of their body weight. You can check the weight of your child’s backpack with a bathroom scale. If the backpack is regularly too heavy, speak with the teacher about ways to reduce the weight. A complete guide you can find here.
Buy the right size bag for your student and encourage daily cleanouts so that the pack never weighs more than 15% of their body weight.
Different Outdoor Experience: Do Sport while Carrying Your Child
Finally, the bag should be the appropriate size for your child. It can be tempting to buy a bigger bag that your kid can “grow into,” but over sized backpacks can cause more trouble than their worth. Buy the right size bag for your student and encourage daily clean outs so that the pack never weighs more than 15% of their body weight. A backpack should be no wider than the wearer’s chest, and no longer than their torso (from the shoulders to the lower back). Children should avoid carrying backpacks too large for their frames. Learn how to properly fit and measure your kids for backpacks with this guide .
Looking for a Backpack? Check out our Backpack Amazon Selection to see what backpack types and features are best for you. Find awesome backpacks for college and school, skate backpacks, and laptop backpacks from different brands.