Kids Rolling Backpacks

Kids Rolling Backpacks



Back in the olden days when kids had to walk to school (uphill both ways) they were usually armed only with a simple notebook, pencil, and their lunch. Today's children are much more sophisticated in their requirements. It's not uncommon for an elementary student to have multiple books, a calculator, PDA, cell phone, and even a netbook computer.  All items quickly thrown into their backpack, and then tossed over a single shoulder just before they zoom out the door.

Today, in addition to having a sturdy backpack that protects any belongings from falling out, parents now also need to consider weight requirements.  Experts recommend children's backpacks should not exceed 15% of their body weight.  You may be surprised to find kids routinely carry twice the recommended percentage, which can be detrimental to their growing bodies.  This accumulative burden can add up over time causing health problems such as a slanted or stooped posture, back pain, shoulder pain, sore necks, and fatigued muscles.


Traditional Children's Backpacks • Health Tips
Here are a few quick tips that can help prevent those unwanted problems.  First, the backpack should be proportionate to the child's age and size.  A quick check with a scale (when fully loaded) will indicate if the 15% weight recommendation is met.  Be sure to adjust the straps so that it sits on the curve of their lower back, no more than four inches below their waistline.  In addition to properly wearing both straps, wide and well padded shoulder straps help weight distribution.  And lastly, heavier items should be loaded first, towards the back of the pack closest to the child's back..

When was the last time you paid attention to your children's backpacks?  It is a scary thought to know that of the 40 million students in the USA, the majority are overloading or wearing their backpacks improperly, potentially opening the door to a lifetime of residual problems.  An excellent solution is to outfit the traditional children's backpacks with wheels.  Not only can this be fun, but is an ideal way in keeping the weight off any child's back.


Kids Rolling Backpacks • Shopping Tips
Below is a quick list of things to be aware of when looking to buy kids rolling backpacks, as the cheaper backpacks with wheels tend to wear out much faster compared to their brand named counterparts.  Investing in a slightly more expensive backpack will save you in the long run, especially when this prevents having to purchase multiple replacements within the same school year. 

Softer wheels will generate less noise when the backpack is rolling.  Watch out for flimsy fabric wheel covers as they tend to immediately get caught and torn off.  Improperly balanced wheels can make loading your children's backpacks a hassle as it continuously tumbles over.  Plastic legs in the front allow for the backpack to stand upright without falling.

The pull out handle should slide in and out with ease. If the handle pulls out too far, your child may not be tall enough to use the rolling backpack feature.  An adjustable handle allows the child to choose the most comfortable position.  Stowaway pockets for the backpack straps prevent them from dragging on the ground, getting caught in the wheels, tearing or breaking off completely.

Additional handles such as a near the bottom or sides of the backpack are great for when loading in and out of the car.  Multiple pockets to carry water bottles, store the calculator, and other odds and ends are also useful.  

Multiple heavy textbooks will naturally wear the fabric out faster, but with the rolling backpacks you also have to take into consideration this can cause the backpack to flip sideways or backwards when using the wheels.  Look for hard plastic corners in the bottom which can help prevent this from happening.  And finally, it helps to choose colors that are less likely to attract dirt, helping to keep these rolling backpacks nice and clean.

I remember when I was younger, carrying my heavy backpack draped over a single shoulder so that I could look "cool". Coincidence or not, to this very day that same shoulder dips lower then the other. When was the last time you paid attention to your children's backpacks?

Sources: Backpack Safety, Back Pain in Children, Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students,
Is my child's backpack to heavy?, Back Pain - Schoolbags - Better Health Channel