The importance of choosing the right school bag for your child

A new school bag is an important purchase, and should involve more thought than just choosing one with your child's favorite character.

Many children carry heavy and poorly fitted school bags and struggle to lift them up stairs or during the journey to school.

Carrying a heavy bag can lead to increased muscle tension, back pain, and the long-term development of poor postural habits.

This could affect your child's concentration at school or have an impact on them when participating in sports.

We will see why it is essential to choose a school bag that is suitable for your child.

How do I know if the school bag is suitable for my child?

Given the many available models, it can be difficult to know which school bag will best suit your child.

We have gathered the most important points to consider when choosing a school bag for your child:

• Look for a quality backpack with a padded back, wide and padded adjustable straps.
• Ensure that the bag is the right size. A bag that is too big will bump into your child's bottom as they walk. The top edge of the school bag should be at the same level as their shoulders, and it should fit snugly against their entire spine and end just above their bottom.
• A child should not carry more than 15% of their body weight, so choose a lightweight bag.
• Roller bags are popular, but they are more difficult for young children to lift.
• Choose a bag with bright colors and reflectors, so that your child is easily visible.

Teach your child to carry their school bag properly

Once you have the new school bag, it is important to teach your child how to use it correctly.

• Place the bag on your child. Tighten the straps to bring the bag closer to the spine.
• Ensure that your child only brings what they need to school each day, to avoid carrying an unnecessarily heavy bag.
• Wearing the bag on both shoulders evenly distributes the weight on your child's spine and will avoid uneven pressure on one side. A bag worn on one shoulder may look cool, but your child will have to balance the weight by changing the position of their spine and tensing their muscles.

If your child has difficulty carrying their school bag, contact your doctor.

This way, they can check their spine, see how they move, and give them practical advice on how to carry their school bag properly.