Finding the Right Back Pack for your Child

Your child’s backpack may be hurting his or her health. Studies have shown that as many as 50% of teenagers suffer from back pain, which may be caused by a number of factors- one of them the improper use of backpacks.

“Backpacks should not weigh more than 15 percent of a child’s body weight,” advises Ken Shim. “Anything heavier can cause back pain or other health problems.”

Make sure your child stays healthy by packing it light and wearing it right.  Here’s how:

Loading a backpack:

• Load heaviest items closest to a child’s back.
• Arrange books and materials so they won’t slide around in the backpack.
• Pack only necessary items.

Wearing a backpack:

• Wear both shoulder straps.
• Select a pack with well padded shoulder straps.
• Adjust the shoulder straps so backpack fits snug to the child’s back and rests in the curve of the lower back.
• Wear the waist belt if the backpack has one·
• When the backpack is overloaded, use a book bag on wheels instead.