New York: As families prepare for the new school year, health experts are warning that overloaded school backpacks can place unnecessary strain on children's bodies, potentially affecting comfort, mobility and even classroom readiness.Modern students often carry far more than textbooks, including laptops, tablets, sports equipment, water bottles, lunch containers and other daily essentials. While each item may appear manageable on its own, the combined weight can become burdensome, particularly for children who walk to school or participate in extracurricular activities.The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to watch for signs that a backpack may be too heavy, including children leaning forward while walking, struggling to move comfortably or experiencing shoulder straps digging into their shoulders.Dr. Sadika Kendi, who chairs the academy's injury prevention efforts, said parents should not wait until children complain of discomfort before reducing backpack weight.Although serious back injuries linked to backpacks are uncommon, Kendi noted that heavy bags can increase the risk of injury if a child trips or falls."It's worse if, for example, they trip and fall and they have a huge, heavy backpack on their back. Then that's just more weight that could increase the severity of an injury," she said.No standard guidelinesWhile a guideline of carrying no more than 10% to 15% of a child's body weight is often cited, experts say there is no universal standard because children vary in size, strength and daily activities. Instead, families are encouraged to keep backpacks as light as possible and tailor decisions to individual needs.Teachers and parents also suggest reviewing what students truly need to carry each day.Samantha Ness, a history teacher in Phoenix, said technology has changed what students bring to school, with many now carrying laptops and chargers daily while relying less on paper materials."When considering the things going into their backpacks, how is it going to help them be successful in the classroom?" she said.Parents are also being encouraged to consider whether children need to carry both digital devices and textbooks every day, particularly in schools that use block scheduling or allow some materials to remain in classrooms.Features that helpExperts recommend selecting backpacks that fit properly and feature two wide padded shoulder straps, a padded back, multiple compartments to distribute weight evenly and a chest or waist strap to help reduce pressure on the shoulders.Children should also be taught proper lifting techniques, including bending at the knees rather than the waist when picking up heavier bags.While wheeled backpacks can help reduce strain, they may create challenges on stairs and in crowded school corridors, where they can become tripping hazards.Safety experts further advise children to remove backpacks while travelling in vehicles, noting that wearing a backpack can interfere with the proper function of seat belts during sudden stops or collisions.Regularly cleaning out backpacks can also help reduce excess weight by removing unnecessary papers, old assignments, leaking water bottles and other accumulated items.With back-to-school shopping underway, health professionals say a simple review of what children carry each day can help improve comfort, reduce physical strain and make the school day easier to navigate.
