Heavy Backpacks
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Heavy Backpacks
Questions
Aug 2009
Our teenage daughter just started ''Middle College'' High School. She
has TONS of heavy books. Does anyone have a recommendation for a
sturdy backpack that also has wheels for rolling? I've looked online,
and it seems like we'll have to spend close to $100 -- which is OK,
but if I'm going to spend that much, I hope I can get something of
good quality. Any suggestions? Thanks,
Marilyn
Try the L.L.Bean website to order a rolling backpack--many color
choices. About $80. Their wheels and zippers seem sturdier than
store-bought brands and if anything tears or breaks, they advertise
free replacement. If you don't like it, call because they pay for
return shipping. They have an outlet store in New Hampshire if
you're not particular about color--usually half the price.
Sam
An alternative to the wheeled backpack is to get the ISBN numbers off of your student's
books and do a search for used copies. Using the ISBN number ensures that you find the
correct edition. We found many bargains where the text was just a few dollars, sometimes
less than the shipping costs. We went this route for two reasons: first, so our daughter
wouldn't have to lug the textbooks back and forth to school, and second, to ensure that the
textbooks would always be available when needed and not forgotten in the school locker
over the weekend. It really worked well for us.
anon
Nov 2005
I know just about every high schooler has a heavy backpack, but my daughter is in
MIDDLE SCHOOL and her backpack weighs more than 15% of her body weight. (She
weighs about 90 pounds, backpack is maybe twenty on heavier days). It seems a lot
of kids have this issue, even in sixth and seventh grade. I am worried, a twelve-
year-old is NOT supposed to have this much. It really isn't an option to just buy her
home parts of her textbooks, for one, because she goes places and has to do
homework in other places besides the home, and two, those textbooks are about
seventy or eight dollars, and she's got probably five, so that's four hundred dollars,
which I'm not willing to spend, nor should I have to. Any reccomendations about
what we can do? It's just really bugging me, and I don't want her to have a back
brace by the time she is fourteen!
Molly
I agree that this is problematic. I would recommend a heavy backpack
with wheels, and a handle they can pull around. I've seen many
middle-schoolers with these.
Susan
My son is in 6th grade and only weighs 70 lbs. I also couldn't
believe how heavy his backpack is. We got him and his friend a
backpack with wheels. THe first one was cheaply made and didn't
last very long, but then I replaced it with one clearly more
durable and it works fine. They are both grateful. It only cost
$20.
max
How about a roller backpack? Let the wheels do the work, at least
most of the time.
sarah
Heavy backpacks are an ongoing problem these days. The books are
so heavy, and there are so many ofthem (in addition to binders,
folders, and all the after-school stuff the kids haul around).
Most experts suggest that 15% of body weight is a reasonable
limit for middle-school age (10% for younger children). So if
your daughter is carrying about 15% and not complaining of any
discomfort, it's probably o.k. But if it's often heavier, and/or
she says it feels very heavy or painful to carry, it's worth
making some changes. Despite the expense, you might consider
buying one or two books to have at home (you can often gind used
copies on line). She can do the other homework at her
after-school places, and the rest later. If she is going to be
with other classmates after school, doing homework together,
maybe they could agree to each bring part of the book-load. ANd
if your daughter has ongoing discomfort, be sure to make her
principal and teachers aware of it.
At my child's middle school, we organized a Backpack Awareness
Day to help educate both kids and staff about this issue (with
varyng results). I have several resources from that event that
I'd be happy to share with anyone.
Get a rolling back pack. Many kids have them. Do the kids have
lockers? What about a study hall? Time management and
organizational skills are also helpful at this age. Talk to
the principal too and or teachers about your concerns. There
should be designated test days for each subject and homework
can sometimes be completed at school to reduce having to bring
home another book. Ask the teachers to consider alteratives to
having to require homework out of the book each day. (former
middle school counselor)
Michelle
Get a rolling backpack. Land's End has ones with cool colors and
designs. No one should haul that much weight on their backs,
especially not growing kids.
Donna
March 2005
Our teen's school backpack must weigh at least 30 pounds
(a big binder and text book for each class). This hasn't
been a huge issue since we currently have a carpool in
place. Next year she'll be going to school via public
transportation. This will involve walking 10-15 minutes to
and from the bus stop. She refuses to consider a backpack
on wheels...too cool for that. The only thing I can think
of is getting lighter weight binders. Other suggestions?
Thanks so much.
Go to REI, and ask for a backpack with a belt around the
waist. It doesn't have to be a fancy and expensive
backpacking backpack. The weight of the backpack will rest
on the hips instead of the shoulders. For more weight on
the hip, relax the shoulder straps and let the backpack hang
loose on the hips. My son has long walks for his commute
and credits t=his backpack for saving his back.
TEACHERS - I HOPE YOU WILL READ THIS!
Carrying way too much weight is definitely an on-going
problem for students these days. Most experts agree that
most high school kids should not regularly carry a load
greater than 15 percent of their body weight (does your
daughter weigh 200 pounds?). There are two issues to
address - 1. keeping the weight down and 2. minimizing the
effect by selecting a well-fitting pack, and packing it right.
A few ideas for the first issue: if possible, buy a separate
copy of the heaviest textbooks to keep at home (assuming
there is a locker or other place to keep the other books at
school); encourage her to carry only what she really needs
each day (leave the magazines and multiple CD's at home) -
this may involve having her actually talk to teachers about
this; have her use her locker as much as possible, so she
only carries around a few classes worth of stuff at a time;
encourage frequent binder purges - again, she'll have to ASK
what school papers she needs to keep and have available at
school, what she needs to keep for studying, but can keep at
home, and what she really doesn't need any more (and tear
out finished pages from planners and spiral notebooks);
assuming she has a locker at school - keep a separate stash
of supplies such as pencils, highliters, binder paper, etc.
at school rather than lugging everything back and forth
(every ounce can help!); have her carry her lunch, sports
gear, etc. in a separate bag, carried in her arms, so not
all of the weight is in one place; try to discuss the issue
with teachers and administrators to see if they can cut down
on the number of heavy books that need to be in class each
day, remind kids to clear out old papers, and try to give
kids enough time to use lockers between periods.
As for the second issue, wheeled backpacks - even if she was
willing to use them - do not solve everything. Select a
strong backpack, ideally with ''snugger'' straps, so the load
will be compact. It should have well padded shoulder straps
(wear both!), and be adjusted so the bottom of the pack
rests in the lower back curve, low on the hips. Items should
be packed with heavier things closer to her back, and
arranged to keep them from sliding around. If possible,
choose one with a hip strap, and hope she will use it at
least for the longer bus-school treks. If she prefers a
messenger-style bag, be sure she wears it across her body,
with the weight evenly distributed, not slung over one shoulder.
Finally - if she experiences any neck or back pain, get it
checked by your health professional.
I worked on a ''Backpack Awareness Day'' at my son's school,
and I have some handouts and information I can forward to
anyone. e-mail me at rkonoff@yahoo.com.
For more information, check out
http://www.promoteot.org/AI_BackpackAwareness.html
R. K.
I read somewhere that a study was done on school backpacks, which showed
that they have not increased in weight over the last thirty years, and most of
the trouble kids are having stems from too much time slumping in front of
the tv.
Nevertheless, I find the amount of weight ridiculous. I can often hardly lift
my daughter's backpack. The weight of the textbooks is extreme. We're now
working on photocopying her big books chapter by chapter and putting them
in a binder for her to take as necessary. Schools and publishers like the
heavier glossy textbook paper, I believe because it's sturdier, but at the
expense of kids.
On a lighter note, on one occasion in middle school my daughter was
complaining about her heavy backpack, so we went through it and I
discovered a copy of the full three-volume Lord of the Rings that she'd
forgotten about.
Fiona
It's not a cheap solution, but you could buy copies of othe
heavier textbooks to be kept at home so your child could
leave the ''school'' copy at school in her locker or
classroom. (In my son's school, the school was able to buy
''classroom'' copies so the kids could leave the heavy books
at home and use the school's copies for class.)
Linda
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