How heavy should a child’s backpack be?
It seems that parent’s are complaining more frequently of their child having too much homework as was spoken about in this month’s issue of Diablo Magazine. I think that maybe instead of worrying just about homework load, parents should worry about the weight of their child’s backpack.
Many children today are carrying backpacks full of heavy text books (weighing approximately 3-5 pounds each), notebooks, pencils, pens, lunches, workbooks and the list continues. The recommended weight of a backpack for children is 10% of the child’s body weight with a maximum of 20%. For example, if a child weighs 60lbs, the weight of his/her backpack should be 6 lbs and no more than 12 lbs. This does not leave a lot of room for all the books and other items that kids tend to stuff into their backpacks.
I see ma
ny patients today who bring in their children who have rounded shoulders and their heads sitting too far forward on their shoulders caused by overweight backpacks and improper use of their backpacks.
Here are some great tips I found on heavy backpacks and children.
