The Best Backpacks

It seems as if the children have just left school when the back-to-school sales start appearing. So they’re doing summer assignments and you’ve been stocking up on school supplies. As it piles up you might start to wonder how it’s all going to fit in your child’s worn-out backpack. If your child dropped his bag with a sigh of relief each day after school, you might be worried how it’s going to affect his or her back over time.

Bag safety largely depends on how the bag is worn. Muscular strain occurs when the backpack’s weight is not evenly distributed, that is, when the backpack is worn on one shoulder. This causes young people to walk in a way that puts strain on the spine. A two-strap backpack helps even the load on both shoulders and hips. Explain to your child why this is important and even if he or she still keeps his or her backpack on one shoulder, at least he or she will have learned why he or she shouldn’t. Even backpacks worn properly can cause injury if they are too heavy.

With that said, there are some guidelines to a safer backpack. A rolling backpack, of course, will provide the best protection for your child’s back, at the cost of his dignity. If your child insists on a messenger bag or one-strap backpack, make sure it’s a smaller size that cannot hold many heavy objects. Have him or her clean out unnecessary items every night and only bring what he or she needs for the next day. If he or she needs other items, he or she must visit his locker between classes. With luck, this will be enough of a hassle to make him or her settle for a regular backpack. When that happens, there are several designs that rank above others in durability and comfort.

Keep in mind that children come in different shapes and sizes and can grow unexpectedly. So if you’re uncomfortable with buying a backpack online, go to the store and have your kid try some on. Bring a dictionary, or some other heavy item to simulate a full pack. See which ones are comfortable, but also check for positive ratings online. A good product will last for years, possibly even into college.