Anyone else shocked at the weight of dc's school bag?

[AuntEm]

I tried picking up dd's school bag the other morning and cannot believe how just heavy it was. She's in yr 10. There were 4 text books, the same number of folders, pencil case, art stuff, lunch, ipod, phone and make-up. She says she needs it all. She has a locker but WILL NOT use it as apparently it is in an awkward place and smells, so carries all this around all day. She's not exactly a strapping lass & I'm really worried she's going to have problems with back/neck/shoulders. what to do?

My DS had serious back problems last year, and I too was shocked when trying to pick up his bag. He tried to keep all books at home for Homework and take them in when needed - which could be 8 subjects a day + PE kits, lunch box etc. (LOckers are provided as well).

We banned him from carrying ANY text books and school has to provide him some or he had to share. This year he is very careful about packing.

At least he takes a proper backpack with decent shoulder straps and supports now.

Sorry to hear about your ds Milliways. Do you know what caused his back problems, was it carrying heavy weights around?
I'm sure there are things dd (& the school) could do to stop things getting that bad, but don't know how to get her to take it seriously, seeing as she knows everything and I know nothing. We've been having arguments about using the locker since yr 7.

Ds has such a heavy bag I have to carry it for him (year 5, Germany, grammar school)) and they don't provide lockers and only have 3 double lessons a day. The only alternative I can see is to get him one of those rucksacks with wheels - but the coolness factor is zero so would have to convince him.

He had a really bruised shoulder the other week from carrying his big dictionary on top of the rest. I don't remember having sucha heavy school bag - books were handed out in class and only taken home for homework then. Milliways did you see a doctor for your ds? I was wondering if I could get ds some sort of back-training therapy.

DS ended up with MRI scans as he was taking diazepam (worked up from ibuprofen to codeine, diclofenac then diazepam) to control pain and he was almost paralysed - literally could NOT bend his back more than about 10 degrees from the waist. Scary times.

He has some hypermobility so can be prone to joint strains, and it was probabbly a mix of ton-weight bags and an overuse of Butterfly stroke at swim club after something pulled one warm up session.

He is fine now. They gave him weekly hydrotherapy (eventually).

yes. ds1 developed back problems last year cos of it so I went into the school. He now has a set of text books at home and a set in school so he doesn't have to lug them back and forth.

Yes, it's insane but not helped by ds's dyspraxia - he can never organise himself to have the right books so carries them all.

We have endless lists and strategies but half the time he's carrying a ton weight yet still hasn't got the right ones at the right time.

My DS1 is in Y8 and he is on his 4th rucksack as the weight ends up tearing them.

There are a few lockers to be had but he flatly refuses to buy one (Ithink it's about £10 a year which I would gladly pay).He's terrified on leaving something in the locker.
To make matters worse he carries his coat around all day and on PE days, his kit. The PE kit can weigh a ton on it's own with his size 11 footy boots.
It probably helps that he's very big for his age but that does not mean he's immune to back problems.