Send Them Packing – Safely and In Style

Getting ready to go back to school can be stressful, for everyone involved. But a combination of planning ahead and choosing the right backpack can help make the trek back to school smoother and easier for your children, while giving you peace of mind.

The first thing to keep in mind when selecting a backpack for your child is size. Make sure that it’s not too big or too small, it fits comfortably and the straps are easily adjustable.

When sending them off to school with everything they will need for the day strapped to their back remember to pack light. Many health professionals advise that the backpack should be no heavier than 10 to 15 percent of the child’s body weight. And to further prevent back strain or potential nerve damage, choose a style of backpack that will evenly distribute the contents, usually the kind with two wide shoulder straps rather than just one.

Once the backpack is ready to go (and hopefully they are too), it should be lifted up off the floor with both hands while the knees are slightly bent. It should be put on like a coat, first one arm and then the other. If it has a waist strap, encourage them to you use it, since this will stabilize the backpack while adding more support.

The second thing to consider when buying a backpack is its primary function. For books, basic necessities like school supplies and a safe place for the science project when transporting it to class, choose one with a main compartment with several smaller zippered pockets. One with a drink bottle compartment would be handy if they have to walk home on warmer days. If the older kids in your household only intend to take their laptop to school along with a few accompanying accessories, consider a laptop backpack that has separate compartments for a laptop, papers and organizer pockets.

Since it will take wild horses to get your kids to go back to school, the third thing to keep in mind when selecting that perfect backpack for your child or teen is style. You know they will leave it behind “accidentally” somewhere if they don’t like it. Maybe a backpack in a bright color with a trendy pattern might fool them into thinking that going back to school isn’t so bad.