A new school year is starting soon. I am sure parents are getting ready their children’s school books and even new school bags.

For school bag, it can be such a heavy load on that young shoulder and a strain on the back, considering the number of books that a child has to bring to his/her primary school. When choosing a school bag for your child or relieving that heavy load on his/her young shoulder and back, do consider these tips:

1) Choose a school bag that promotes good posture support and provides spinal protection

Ergonomic backpacks will make an ideal choice. These bags are designed for comfort and promote good spinal health.  If the contents in the bag are heavy:

- Avoid choosing a school bag just for its fanciful design, without considering the spinal support

- Avoid trolley bag, especially in school with many flights of stairs. This is because it could pose as a danger for the child to pull the trolley bag along the long flights of stairs in school or even in the bus, and if carried, it also add extra weight to the child’s back.

- Select bag that spreads out weight equally on both sides of the shoulders eg. a backpack, instead of a sling bag.

{When Brendan was in Primary 1, we were surprised when it was announced on the first day of school that trolley bags are not allowed in the school. Parents, who were not aware beforehand, wasted money to buy a new bag.  However, it is still a safety precautionary measure for the children, considering the steps that they have to climb everyday in school.}

2) Sticking by school timetable

Ensure that your child refers to his/her school timetable and bring only the necessary books for the day. Laziness to pack the bag everyday is definitely not a good excuse for the child to fill a bag with unnecessary books.

3) Check your child’s bag

Children would sometimes bring their own personal collections or story books to school. Over time, the contents (letters from school, completed worksheets and even items from school or friends) would have also grown.

The best is to encourage the child to clear these items from the bag regularly. However, being young children who will overlook this (which they usually do), parents could check their bags sometimes. This will constantly add as a reminder for the child to REMOVE UNNECESSARY ITEMS from the bag and DO NOT BRING PERSONAL ITEMS to school - unless necessary.

{Guess what I repeatedly found in Brendan’s school bag? Sometimes, a few copies of his favourite Mr Midnight story books, thick Pokemon Manual, and even perishable items given by school or friends! Seems like my boy is too eager to share his books with his friends despite the weight and my constant reminder for him to reduce weight in school bag.}

4) Split the items into two bags

 At times, the children have to bring additional items to school in view of extra curricular activities. Do not squeeze the items into a “already full and heavy bag”. Consider putting these additional and lighter items into a hand-carried bag.

5) Fill water bottle in school

Water bottle can often add that extra weight to the bag.  One option is not to fully fill up the water bottle at home or choose a moderate size water bottle. If there are water coolers in school, encourage the child to re-fill the water bottle in school.

{I have seen young children carrying huge sized water bottles to school, as if they are going for war or into the desert.}

With these tips, parents can have comfort of mind while your children have the comfort on their backs and shoulders:)

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