Fit school bags correctly to prevent injury
Studies show that school bags can cause back pain and damage children’s spines, causing muscle strain and rounding of the shoulders, particularly when worn incorrectly.
How to choose the best school bag for your child? Here are some essential tips to bear in mind when buying your child’s school bag: Buy the right size bag Buy a bag that’s appropriate to your child’s size.
A too-large bag just gives more space to be
filled and will quickly end up being too heavy.
Experts recommend buying a backpack, rather than a bag that’s carried, or slung over one shoulder, as the latter can cause back and shoulder problems. Pack a school bag correctly
When getting ready for the new school term, try to find a bag with a few separate compartments to help with packing. That way you’ll be able to position the heaviest items next to a child’s back, slotting books and lunch boxes firmly into place, so items don’t move around in If a child has to lean forward whilst wearing their bag, it’s most likely fitted incorrectly. transit.
If they do, a badly-packed bag can shift your child’s centre of gravity and potentially cause back strain.
A drink bottle holder outside the bag is a good idea to save spillage and damp school books. Don’t overload a bag
A backpack should weigh less than ten per cent of your child’s weight, so around 4kg for a 40kg child. Seeing as that only equates to a few books and a large lunchbox, many kids are carrying more weight than is healthy.
Encourage your child to only carry essential items in their bag and to leave as much as they can in their locker or desk at school, trying to ensure they repack their bag each day. Carrying and lifting tips Teach your child to lift their bag with a straight back, bending at the knees. Make sure the bottom of the bag sits above their waist rather than hanging low, sitting on the hips.
If a child has to lean forward whilst wearing their bag, it’s most likely fitted incorrectly.
Also make sure your kids know that they could be damaging their back if they wear a backpack slung over one shoulder.
(Source:kidspot.co.nz)