Walking around an elementary or middle school, aside from pre-teenage angst and cell phones flipping out all over the place, you will probably notice an 80 pound child with a book bag that looks like it was an anchor taken off a battleship.  This is just a bad idea!  So parents, I am sure the teachers have these books here for a reason but know that there are a few other options that can lighten the load to something less pack-mule-like.  Here are some tips to keep those young backs from being worn down by the expanded bibliography on a social studies book:

1. Tighten Up Those Straps – If you see your child with straps that are really loose, back dangling down to their knees, tighten that thing up.   I am not suggesting cut the blood flow to the arms but have a more snuggly fit backpack prevents increased pressure from torque (think like a see saw…the farther the backpack is from the back the heavier it is).

2. Get Rid of the Straps All Together – I have recently been informed that more children are using rolling luggage to carry books.  This right here is a sign that there is just TOO MUCH weight in there, nevertheless, it isn’t a bad idea.  Just make sure the rolling backpack fits into all overhead storage compartments so it doesn’t shuffle around during turbulence in algebra J

3. Plan it Out – Now, I know maybe those books have to come back and forth from home but they don’t’ need to go to every class. Make the most of those lockers for storage throughout the day.  Figure out what your child needs going from class to class and lighten the load. 

4. Education Intervention – I know I may catch so flack for this but we are in an internet/cell phone/digital age where information can easily be gotten off the computer.  Get smaller books, e-books, assignments online, etc. whatever.  Let’s just try to young backs and hips from being crushed under the weight of 5 textbooks per class.