Experts Warn That Heavy Schoolbags Strain Children’s Backs

A schoolbag may look manageable when filled with individual items, but books, digital devices, water bottles, lunch boxes and sports equipment can place considerable strain on a child’s body when carried together.

The warning comes in a study reported before the start of the school year. Children who walk to school or take part in extracurricular activities may carry more than their bodies can comfortably manage, even when each item seems light on its own.

Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics identifies several signs that a backpack may be too heavy. A child who bends forward to support the load or struggles to walk may be carrying more than is appropriate.

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It is worse, for example, if they trip and fall with a huge, very heavy bag on their back. That adds weight and can worsen the injury.

Back injuries remain uncommon, but they can occur, particularly if a child trips and falls while wearing a very heavy bag. Sadika Kendi, president of an injury prevention program, said the weight of the backpack can worsen an injury during a fall.

Kendi also said adults should not treat the often-cited limit of 10% to 15% of a child’s body weight as a universal rule. Children differ in height, strength, physical development and daily routines, she said. Adults should instead account for each child’s needs and generally keep schoolbags as light as possible.

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Adults therefore need to take into account the needs of each individual and generally ensure that schoolbags remain as light as possible.