Similar to a heavy backpack, a heavy lunch bag too can cause additional strain and harm on the back and shoulders of the kids. Hence, parents should be careful and take certain precautions while burdening their kid with a lunch bag in addition to a backpack.
Lunch bags are usually carried inside a backpack. Hence, attaching the bag outside the backpack does not actually reduce the weight but it may dangle about and cause additional strain and imbalance to the kid. Instead, the lunch box should be kept inside the backpack and placed in such a manner that it comes closer to the kid’s back sot hat s/he does not lose equilibrium.
All the other heavier items such as water bottles, containers and thermoses should be kept inside the backpack. These too should be kept in a way that these come closer to the kid’s back. This will help the kid to maintain his/her equilibrium and avoid extra strain.
Lighter objects such as pencils, erasers, and other loose items could be kept in the lunch bag and then placed inside the backpack. Making the kid carry the lunch bag in one hand will cause additional strain and imbalance. Moreover, it will only help to restrict the child’s movement.
The important point for parents to keep in mind is that the combined weight of the backpack and the lunch bag does not exceed the prescribed limit of 10 percent of the body weight for younger kids and 15 percent of the body weight of older kids. Such precautions, though seem small enough, are very important to bring your kid back home in safe and fitting condition.
Posted on May 30th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Child Care, Toddler, school
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