Child Safety - Selecting the Right Backpack for School
By Child Safety Specialist August 14, 2012 | 09:00 AMPosted in: Child Safety, Family This week in my house the back-to-school supply shopping
begins. The frenzy almost matches the
day after Thanksgiving holiday shopping.
Shopping for three kids’ school supplies gets pretty pricey and then, of
course, each one wants special things for their lockers and the coolest backpack.
I never really gave too much thought to their school back
packs. I usually let them get their
favorite character or design and tried to keep it reasonably priced. But, as my kids got older, I saw how much
stuff they were hauling back and forth and realized they were becoming
literally and figuratively a pain in the neck.
Between books, lunches, gym clothes and musical instruments, kids can
easily be carrying around an extra 20 pounds.
For kids who are only 50 or 60 pounds, this can be up to 30% of their
body weight! Heavy school backpacks can
lead to chronic back pain or debilitating orthopedic issues.
There are a variety of features you should look for when
selecting a backpack. First, make sure
it’s the proper size for your child.
Here is a chart of the average back sizes of kids (by age)
to use as a guide as what sized backpack to buy your child:
Average
Child Back Sizes for Backpacks
|
Age
|
Height
|
Width
|
4
|
11”
|
6”
|
5
|
12”
|
6-1/2”
|
6
|
12-1/2”
|
7”
|
7
|
13”
|
7”
|
8
|
14”
|
7-1/2”
|
9
|
14-1/2”
|
8”
|
10
|
15”
|
8”
|
11
|
15-1/2”
|
8”
|
12
|
15-1/2”
|
8-1/2”
|
13
|
16-1/2”
|
9”
|
14
|
17”
|
9”
|
15
|
17-1/2”
|
9”
|
16
|
18”
|
9”
|
17
|
19”
|
9-1/2”
|
18
|
19”
|
9-1/2”
|
A few more backpack tips to consider:
·Be sure the backpack has padded, wide shoulder
straps. The bottom of these straps
should rest one to two inches below the top of the shoulders.
·An abdominal strap that joins via a snap can
help to distribute the weight carried across the shoulders, hips, back, and
waist. It is also important to ensure that the bottom of the bag rests in the
curve of your child’s lower back, and no more than four inches below the
waistline.
For your child safety,
make sure your kid’s backpack have reflectors on it, in order for him or her to
be seen when walking to school or the bus stop.
Related Articles
Getting Between Home and School Safely
Important Tips to Keep Children Safe
What You Need To Ask Your Child’s School Regarding Safety
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