Would you let your kid strap a bowling ball to her back
before heading off to school? How about two bowling balls?
No way, you say. But that's almost akin to what many kids
may be doing, given that the average weight of fully stocked
school backpacks ranges from 15 to 35 pounds. Carrying around
that much weight — be it books or bowling balls — can put
a dangerous strain on your child's underdeveloped back and
shoulder muscles.
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of backpack holding six to eight books: about 16
pounds. |
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| Weight
of bowling ball: 12 to 16 pounds. |
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If your child has numbness or tingling in her arms and
wrists, aching in the neck and shoulders or a persistent
headache, check to see if she has an excessively heavy bag.
Amy Maulhardt, an occupational therapist for the Ventura
County school district in California, says it's not only the
weight of the backpack that can harm children's health, but
also how they carry the bag that can present problem.
"Kids should always wear their backpack on both
shoulders so the weight is equally distributed,"
Maulhardt says. "If using a one-strap messenger bag, they
should hold it against their chest using both arms." This
eliminates the majority of the weight from hanging off the
shoulders, causing unnecessary strain, she says.
She suggests these simple tips to help pack lighter bags
and prevent serious injuries:
Conserve Energy
Kids should only carry one book at a time, storing everything
else in their locker. If they don't have enough time to get to
their locker, they can ask the school's permission to store
books in each classroom or be allowed extra time between
classes.
Help on Wheels
By using a travel dolly or grocery cart, kids can take the
weight off their back altogether. Many carts will collapse
between uses for storing under their desk or inside a locker.
Kids can also enlist the help of their friends. Finding
buddies to help lighten their load can make a big difference.
Be Practical
Ask permission to have two sets of books, one for school and
one for home. This way, your child isn't overly burdened if
she walks to and from school. Have your child ask herself,
"Do I really need a separate binder for every class? Do I
really need to carry my Discman, make-up bag and gym shoes
with me everyday?"
Encourage your child to condense binders and eliminate as
many extras as she can. Do this on a regular basis to ensure
her newly lightened backpack stays that way.
