For kids, being safe often compromises their cool quotient.
Think about it: wearing a helmet while biking = geeky; buckling up in a vehicle = loser; rocking elbow pads while skateboarding = not rocking; and using a rolling backpack = Nerdsville.
Personally, I love backpacks with wheels, but then again, I’m not in middle school.
According to my too-hip-for-his-own-good nephew, “No one takes a person over 9 years old with a rolling backpack seriously.” And if you dare to be seen with a wheeled backpack in high school, said nephew warns: “I am relatively sure people will make fun of you.”
Save for the chiropractor who is making a mint from “cool” kids lugging around 70 pounds worth of textbooks and other school supplies on a single shoulder because, you know, it’s “cool” to schlep the equivalent of a second grader on one shoulder.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a 60-pound child should not be carrying around more than five pounds worth of items in a single backpack. For a child, who weighs 75 to 100 pounds, the maximum backpack weight should not exceed 15 pounds. Meanwhile, a student weighing 100-150 pounds should not be carrying more than 18-20 pounds in his backpack. In other words, if they value their health, most students should be using rolling backpacks rather than traditional versions.
Depending on how you pick your battles, you could mandate your child use a backpack with wheels. Fortunately, there are dozens of options to choose from and many of them feature cool colors and designs. Of course, when you are a kid desperately looking for approval from your peers, “cool” is a relative term. Regardless, if you are a parent shopping with your child for a hip wheeled backpack, consider the following tips from safety experts:
*A wheeled backpack is on average 2 to 3 pounds heavier than a regular backpack; be sure to look at the size of your child carefully before purchasing. There are small-, medium-, and large-sized wheeled backpacks on the market.
*Make sure the backpack’s telescopic handle is kid-tough and doesn’t wobble when it is pulled out fully.
*Prior to purchasing, have your child wheel the bag around in the store to ensure the wheels don’t stick and the bag doesn’t fall over.
*Darker colors do a better job of hiding dirt and stains than lighter shades.
*Warn your child not to swing the backpack around by its telescopic handle. It can damage the bag, and potentially hurt someone.
*A wheeled backpack is very easy for another person to trip over, so be sure your child is careful when rolling it in crowded places.
Finally, while most wheeled backpacks have straps that allow them to be placed on your child’s back, it defeats the purpose for a kid to lug a heavy bag on his shoulders. Remind your son or daughter to make the most of the backpack’s wheels, especially when the bag is filled to capacity.
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