Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

Original poster

Weight of school bag (with contents kept to minimum necessary for that day's classes)...

17 replies

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 17:16

...I am very surprised there are no apparent Health & Safety regulations governing same - or are there?

I wouldn't like to carry my son's, even for a short distance and even given that he can leave his afternoon books in locker until lunchtime and then swap over from morning books. It's carrying the whole lot to and from school that is the concern.

OP posts:

cornsilk · 14/09/2008 17:18

Just make sure you get a decent bag that will help his back to support the weight evenly. I read something on this. It's fine so long as the bag is appropriate.

Original poster

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 17:19

ps that doesn't even take into account games or P.E. days when kit needs to be carried in as well.

OP posts:

cornsilk · 14/09/2008 17:20

Go to a camping shop and get a decent bag. Make sure he goes too so you know it's the right size for him.

Original poster

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 17:21

imo only decent bag would be a proper backpack of the type used for carrying clothes when travelling ie with internal support, chest strap and hip pads or a small case on wheels with extending handle, but I am sure he would look out of place using either.

OP posts:

Original poster

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 17:27

I've just googled and read
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/547336.stm

and

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2027411.stm

and it certainly makes you think!

OP posts:

cocolepew · 14/09/2008 17:30

My DD has back problems and her bag weigh a ton, I think it's actually too big and I'm going to try her with a smaller backpack this week. I think the weight of her books was pulling the bag down too much, causing her to lean backwards.

nooka · 14/09/2008 17:35

My ds has a small (30ltrs) walking backpack. It has chest and hip straps, and we use it for weekend excursions too. The only downside is that it has too many pockets, and so ds sometimes "loses" things (like homework he was suposed to be handing in, his snack bag etc). Fashion type bags are not very ergonomic and they don't seem to last very long, so I think it is a good investment.

infin · 14/09/2008 17:53

Organisation is the key. Leave everything you don't need in the locker. Therefore you only carry homework to and from school and am books/ pm books can be switched when at school. In these days of fewer, longer lessons per day in many schools the weight should not need to be that great. However, children will need to be VERY organised!

Original poster

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 17:59

Has anyone tried this:

www.backpain.org/pages/b_pages/bag2-senior.php

price seems quite high (albeit I know it is a specialist product).

Does anyone know of anything similar?

OP posts:

scaryteacher · 14/09/2008 18:27

www.ergonomicschoolbags.co.uk

I bought one of these for ds towards the end of year 7 and the back problems stopped. He has not moaned about it since. The lady who sells them is on here sometimes, and was very helpful with shipping etc, as I live abroad.

The backpack takes all his stuff for a school day, but PE kit and lunch are carried separately, as I insist on that. I don't want crusts and sweaty T shirts near the school books.

He has a TLC one.

Hope that helps!

tryingtocookacurry · 14/09/2008 18:33

Add a laptop to the list of things my son has to take. Poor boy!

CuppaTeaJanice · 14/09/2008 18:37

Could you get duplicate copies of his textbooks secondhand from Amazon, ebay etc? That way he can keep one copy in his locker and one at home and not have to lug them to and fro.

I remember when I was at school it was very unfashionable to wear both straps of your rucksack - for the sake of the kids backs, I hope that's changed!

Chocolateteapot · 14/09/2008 18:43

I have bought one of the rucksacks in Scaryteacher's link for DD as she has a problem with her shoulder joints. It was expensive but I am very impressed with the quality. I borrowed it for a walk the other day and it really is very comfortable.

Original poster

butterflymum · 14/09/2008 18:49

Thanks for the link - had to gulp at the price though. Food for thought methinks.

Duplicate textbooks possibly an option, but not sure if possible.

Yes, he has separate lunch/games/PE bags too.

OP posts:

roisin · 14/09/2008 18:50

ds1 has one of the ergonomic ones from scaryteacher's link too. It was very expensive (grandma bought it as a present), but seems very comfy and high quality.

He likes having lots of pockets to organise his things.

On Tuesday he has PE and needs to take all his kit plus trainers and football boots. If I remember I'll weigh his bag on Monday night.

He does have a locker now, and I'm hoping he'll get in the habit of leaving his trainers and football boots at school in his locker.

scaryteacher · 14/09/2008 19:52

I thought that it was cheaper than paying for osteopaths later.

laundry.applied.org.uk if you look at the net bags, there are specific PE bags here - they are huge and more than accommodate loads of PE kit - ds had one for prep for all the games kit there, and I have ordered more for the current school as there is room for all the boots as well as a smaller bag for t-shirt and shorts.

roisin · 15/09/2008 20:47

I weighed ds1's school bag with all his PE kits today and it was 3.8 kg, which is OK I think.

Flip