Backpacks can be fashionable and functional, but they can also be too heavy — weighed down by books, digital devices, musical instruments, sports equipment and more.
It's good to be prepared, but children who walk to school or participate in extracurricular activities may be lugging more than their bodies can handle.
As families begin back-to-school shopping, here's how to know if your child's backpack is too heavy, and how to lighten the load.
How heavy is too heavy?
The modern school backpack has evolved, but it hasn’t necessarily got lighter. Whether students have textbooks, digital devices or both, they often are accompanied by notebooks, water bottles, lunch containers or workout clothes. Individually, those items may not seem heavy, but together they can add unnecessary strain to children's bodies.
