How to Pack a School Bag- Properly

 

September’s here and after a long hot summer the schools are back in session. The return to classes means kilos of books for our children to carry, so making sure all that heavy equipment is properly packed in their school bags is essential. There are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your child has everything they will need and can carry it comfortably and safely.

 

Ample Space, Secure Storage, Easy Organisation

Schooltime requires children to be prepared for everything the day might bring. This means carrying pens, pencil cases, books, folders, packed lunches, gym kits, and sports equipment, in addition to any keys, wallets, and phones they might keep with them normally. A well-packed school bag will have ample space for all this, without any need for cramming or straining to fit anything in.

Keeping all that equipment organised will help them to find what they need when they need it, without the frustration of hunting around in a jumbled mess at the bottom of their bag. A wide array of compartments and pockets in the bag will help your child keep everything right at hand and easily retrievable. The Kipling Medium Backpack (with Laptop Protection) in Unisex True Blue Tonal Iniko has both a protected laptop compartment and a specialist clothing compartment for all their sports kit. Its two zipped main compartments, zipped internal pocket, and outer pocket with Velcro closure mean everything can have its rightful place, and nothing need ever get lost.

There’s little use in your child having everything they might need with them if it isn’t kept safe, so pockets and compartments which close securely are ideal. Ensure the bag itself zips shut, and other internal compartments can be anchored closed. Laptop compartments with protection are a great idea if your child will be carrying a computer, and water-repellent fabrics will help prevent any issues from rain or spillages also.

 

Good Weight Distribution- Within and Without

When carrying significant weight around for prolonged periods, it’s important to do so in the safest way possible. Your child should never be carrying more than 10% of their body weight in their bag, so anything non-essential should be left behind. The weight of the bag should be distributed evenly between two well-cushioned shoulder straps, to prevent any twisting of the spine. Distributing the weight of the load within the bag symmetrically will help in this regard, as well as with balance.

Packing the heaviest items closest to the body and low down in the bag shifts some of the load of the weight being carried from the shoulders down to the pelvis. Properly adjusting the shoulder straps so that the bag fits snugly to the body will help to keep your child’s centre of gravity over their feet, where it naturally should be. Items should be properly secured within the bag too, especially heavy ones, as this will prevent any sudden shifts in load which might lead to strain or injury.

If weight is still an issue, it is worth considering a wheeled bag like Kipling’s Carry On Female Homemade Stars New Storia. Its retractable handle makes it as easy to store as a traditional backpack, and its 360°-rotating wheels are both manoeuvrable and sturdy enough to withstand all the rough and tumble of the school day.

The return to school can be stressful, so let Kipling lighten the load, keeping your child and all their things safe and secure ‘til the home time bell rings.