What to do to prevent the backpack from being too heavy?

12 March 2021

School age is an important period in life for a child and its parents. It is a moment of intensive development for a young person - both physically and mentally. That is why it is so important to choose the right backpack that accompanies the child during the school period and is his basic, everyday equipment.

More and more parents are aware of the importance of weight school backpack (or rather its weight, or mass, because a scale is a weighing device; however, due to the frequent identification of these terms, we use them interchangeably here), and with children in mind, a well-known song about a light schoolbag was created. However, a lightweight backpack is not enough. Remember that wrong choice can lead to bad posture in a short time, therefore, make this decision knowing what your school backpack's allowable weight is and taking into account other important factors.

School backpack and school bag: what should you pay attention to?

When choosing a school bag or backpack for school, The Institute of Mother and Child recommends paying attention to such elements as:

Functionality and security,
Approvals and certificates for the components used and workmanship,
Weight, i.e. mass (commonly known as the weight of a school backpack),
Appearance.

How to choose a backpack for a child?

First of all, take a look back, i.e. the back of the backpack. For health reasons and a direct influence on the shaping of the child's posture, the back of the backpack should be stiffened. This will allow even the distribution of very heavy loads and will not cause pressure on the spine when the backpack is filled with textbooks and all the necessary school supplies. With such a "load", even the lightest school backpacks can weigh a lot. It is also important that the schoolbag or backpack has a reinforced bottom that will protect the contents from damage and protect it from dirt.

A good school backpack should also be properly shaped and contoured. Make sure it adheres well to the child's back, thanks to the appropriate profiling in the form of a bulge - to support the lumbar part of the spine.

Aleksandra Swiebod

Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

Ideally, its back should be made of breathable material to prevent the child's back from overheating. However, this is difficult to check when buying. During tests at the Institute, we require certificates from manufacturers confirming this property.

What school bag for a first grader?

What should a first-grade schoolbag be like? Light, but with adequate stiffening. They are also of great importance suspenders. They should be wide, stiffened, properly softened and regulated. Also pay attention to their spacing - adjusted to the height and width of the child's back, the weight of the backpack will be properly and evenly distributed over the entire surface of the shoulders and back. By choosing a product that meets these conditions, you will protect your child from chafing and shoulder pain.

Aleksandra Swiebod

Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

Take care of your child's spine - let the song about a light schoolbag inspire you to act. Check what your child carries in his backpack. Toddlers often take too many things to school - toys, extra books, and anything else they can think of. Remember that each subsequent item is a burden that can lead to posture defects in the child. The health of our child depends on what we find in the school backpack and how we optimize its contents.

School bag weight - standards

Another significant element is the weight of the backpack, which should be as possible light and made of a suitable material. Parents often ask what the weight limit for a school backpack is. European standards indicate that the weight of a backpack should be in the range of 1200-1400 grams, and with its contents - it should not exceed 10% by weight small user. Unfortunately, when children carry a large number of textbooks required in different educational institutions to school, this requirement is not met. Therefore, the weight of the backpack itself should be as small as possible - while maintaining the above criteria. Models advertised as the lightest school backpacks may lack other important elements, such as a stiffened back wall or contoured and soft shoulder straps.

Why should the backpack be light?

Too much weight of a backpack carried by a child on the back causes excessive action of two forces:

The first is the sum of the child's weight including the backpack and the force of gravity directed vertically downwards. It causes the deepening of the physiological curves of the spine, i.e. thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, occurring in the sagittal plane of the body, and also, if they occur, also pathological curves, i.e. scoliosis. Therefore, the weight of the school backpack affects the formation of the correct spine of the child.
The second strength comes from the way the child maintains balance while walking or standing.

Leslaw Kluba

Physiotherapist, Deputy Head of the Therapeutic Rehabilitation Department, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

If the weight of the backpack is significant, balancing it will force our child to tilt the body forward in order to reduce the forces that tilt the spine backwards (so as not to fall over). The average weight of a school backpack will reverse the situation. A slight backward inclination increases the lumbar lordosis and the curvature of the abdomen. Only a light school backpack reduces anterior-posterior forces and has a slight disturbance in the shape and development of the spine. It should also be remembered that light backpacks with a moderate filling weight have a much less destructive effect on the arch of the feet and load on the hip and knee joints (increased valgus or varus) than heavy backpacks.

A safe and functional backpack for children

Now that we know how important a lightweight satchel is, we can move on to the next elements. Pay attention to details that ensure the safety of your child. A good school backpack should come with glarewhich are placed in clearly visible places, for example on the outside of a backpack. Thanks to this, you will provide your child with good visibility, especially after dark.

When buying a backpack, follow also functionality. It should have a sufficient number of compartments, compartments and pockets to help the child organize the contents of the backpack. Remember that your child will be carrying an ID, ID, textbooks, lunch, and a drink with them - a separate place would be needed for each of these items. Depending on the needs - waterproof or not. Good school backpacks they own place to signwhich works great, especially for the youngest students.

The handle of the backpack should also be stiffened, made of a material that will not stick into the child's hand, ergonomic and fitted to the child's hand. When buying, let's also check if the backpack has approvals or certificates. They will give you confidence in the quality, usability, performance of chemically appropriate raw materials (the use of non-toxic materials and dyes) and durability.

A good backpack for children: a fitting needed

You should never buy a backpack without a child, who should try on and adjust the selected model individually, depending on the body size and anatomical relations. Soft braces are important, as the greatest pressure is put on the shoulders. Also, the adjusting straps should not be too long, as they may become stepped on when carrying the backpack in your hand (risk of falling).

Leslaw Kluba

Physiotherapist, Deputy Head of the Therapeutic Rehabilitation Department, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

However, the most important element that affects the health of a child is the weight of the backpack. The filling, that is, the content is at the discretion of the school. Parents have a limited influence here, even if they decide to use a possibly light school bag or a light school backpack. And my own experience with children, adolescents and students of the Physical Education Academy shows that increasing the weight carried on the back by as much as 10% of the body weight causes a significant increase in heart rate during the walk. In school children, this increase averaged 30 beats per minute, compared to the march without a school backpack containing 2-3 kg.

The appearance of the backpack also matters

If you have already decided on a good, lightweight school backpack, take into account its aesthetic value. You must remember that a child is demanding and has needs. Therefore, an important issue is lookthat will suit him. If you find models that meet all the requirements indicated by the Institute of Mother and Child - give your child the opportunity to choose a pattern or color. It is a very individual matter, and the possibility of deciding on such an important thing as a school backpack will be a great joy for your growing up child.