Kids & school bags… What is a good Fit?

The following information deals with the importance of the correct school bag.
There are all sorts of bags that go in and out of fashion, and tend to wreak various levels of havoc with your child’s spine. I’m sure you’ve all heard of someone that ended up with scoliosis or a bent spine from carrying their heavy school bag on one shoulder, and many more, involving school bags that seemed like a good idea at the time. It has now pretty much been accepted, that a back pack is the best bag for a child’s spine. The recommendations don’t stop there though. There are certain things you need to look for in a back pack, they are not all created equal…..

Many backpacks have been designed with fashion rather than function in mind, and when that is put onto a developing spine, you want the emphasis to be strongly on function and safety. Here’s a list of things to look for in a school bag:

1. There must at least be a waist strap, and preferably a chest strap as well. This holds the load of the bag close to the body, and decreases the stress on the spine.
2. The straps must be wide and adjustable. As you well know, every child is different, and your child will grow throughout the year, make sure that the bag can too. Check too that the straps don’t slip.
3. The size of the bag should be so that the top of the bag is level with your child’s shoulders when adjusted properly.
4. The back pack should have sections so that heavy items can be placed and won’t move excessively.
5. When loading the bag, heavy items should be placed as close to the child’s back as possible.