September 21^st is US National School Backpack Awareness Day!

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I am always concerned about the well-being and safety of my clients. Every fall, in those first few weeks of school, I often find my kids carrying heavy packs slung across one shoulder as they hurriedly stagger into the clinic for their session.

Improper use of a backpack can lead to numerous ailments including fatigue, muscle soreness, numbness/tingling in the arms and hands, and back pain—which may all impact learning!

In this brief blog post, I offer 5 tips for proper loading and wear of a backpack.

1. A child’s backpack should be no more than 10% of their total body weight (ex: if your child weighs 50 pounds, their backpack should be no heavier than 5 pounds).
2. The heaviest items should be loaded closest to your child’s back when worn.
3. Be sure you have chosen a pack with two wide, padded shoulder straps.
4. Tighten the straps enough for the backpack to fit closely to the body. The pack should rest evenly in the middle of the back; the bottom of the pack should never rest more than four inches below the child’s waistline.
5. Be sure the child uses both shoulder straps, rather than slung over the shoulder or across the chest, to be sure of even distribution.

Good luck this year, mamas!