| That dreaded day is upon our children. You know the | | | | the length of your child's back. |
| one, it begins with the letter S and ends in the letter L. | | | | Choose a Lighter weight pack. Avoid leather |
| That's the word "School"! It seems like school just | | | | backpacks as they tend to add more weight than the |
| ended, but the ads are all out there, you see them on | | | | conventional canvas backpacks. Besides, your child is |
| TV and in the newspaper and in the mail. The stores | | | | going to be filling it up with enough extra weight; you |
| are packed with the latest and greatest school | | | | don't need to be adding more to it. |
| supplies, and we are now faced with the back to | | | | Choose a pack with padding along the back with two |
| school lists. At the top of that list is a backpack. It may | | | | wide padded shoulder straps. The padding across the |
| not be on the school's top pick, but it certainly is the | | | | back is not only more comfortable, but it will protect |
| one item that is the top pick for most of our children's | | | | your kid from sharp book edges or other points from |
| list. | | | | the objects stored in the backpack. The wide padded |
| Children in all grades like to have a new backpack | | | | shoulder straps are much more comfortable than the |
| each year, even if the old one is still useable. I have a | | | | thinner straps, and are not as likely to tear away as |
| couple old ones sitting in my closet right now. | | | | quickly as the thinner straps under the weight of the |
| Backpacks are the one item kids really like to examine | | | | backpack. |
| before buying. Other than picking out clothes, a | | | | Choose a pack that comes with a waist belt. I know it |
| backpack gives them another way to express their | | | | doesn't look stylish but it will assist in distributing the |
| individual style. They come in a variety of sizes, fabrics, | | | | weight of the pack evenly across your child's back. If |
| and even shapes. | | | | you start your child when they are young using the |
| The organized student will be looking for packs that | | | | waist belt it will become a habit. Once it is established |
| have multiple compartments for pens, pencils, rulers, | | | | as a habit you will be less likely to have problems once |
| and other assorted things so they can easily be found. | | | | they reach their teens. |
| Other students are looking for a certain brand, or the | | | | Choose a pack with compartments for pencils, and |
| latest design. Younger students are looking for the | | | | assorted small items so they can be easily found and |
| latest cartoon pictures, latest Disney characters or the | | | | replaced as they are used. Not only does this help in |
| cutest shapes. | | | | organization, it helps eliminate some of the poking that |
| Backpacks have become a school necessity for | | | | might occur. |
| carrying books, and papers from school to home and | | | | Backpacks have become an extremely popular |
| back. They are the preferred method when you | | | | means of carrying items from school and back home. |
| compare them to any other bags, or when our parents | | | | As parents we need to make sure our kids are |
| were in school and they just carried their books and | | | | wearing them properly and they don't weigh too much. |
| papers in their arms. Backpacks are useful in keeping | | | | So from time to time check to see how heavy their |
| all items together, and keeping books and papers from | | | | pack is. |
| getting wet or damaged to and from school. | | | | By selecting a light backpack that fits correctly, has |
| As the parent it is up to you to help your child select | | | | padding in the back and on two wide shoulder straps, |
| the backpack that is right for them. | | | | with compartments, and a waist strap, you are |
| Choose the appropriate size. When you are buying a | | | | ensuring your child the most comfortable fit available. |
| backpack it is important to select an appropriate size. | | | | Now it's up to them to strut their style, and go for the |
| Pick one that covers no more than three quarters of | | | | grades! Have a great school year! |