Shouldering a heavy burden: How much should a school bag weigh?

Australian Physiotherapy Association paediatric group chairwoman Nicole Pates said in the past, a good target for schoolbags was 10 per cent of the student’s body weight, although the weight will vary each day depending on classes and activities “and weighing backpacks daily isn’t feasible or realistic”.

Pates also said kids might be the same age but at different stages of development, leading to varying levels of strength and body weight.

Waverley College deputy principal Gabrielle Smith said students usually carried their lunch, laptop, drink bottle, hat, co-curricular uniform for sport and culture activities and some textbooks in their school bags.

“Some students like to bring in handballs and basketballs for recess, iPads for taking notes and work uniforms for any students who have after-school jobs,” she said.

While laptops mean students no longer have some bulkier textbooks in their bags, Smith said they now participated in more structured after-school activities than they had in the past, requiring additional uniforms and equipment.

The school provided lockers and additional storage for musical instruments and bulkier items like cricket bats “as well as a sports bag that can be packed, stored at school and accessed when required”, she said.

Lily Raskovic’s daughters Lara and Natalija found their schoolbags difficult to carry at their previous school.

“[They] had heavy bags to begin with, and they struggled carrying them due to bad design (too big) and they carried more things daily,” she said.

“I recall having to carry them and thinking these bags are not practical for the children.”

Lara, who is in year 4 at a private primary school, carries a lunch box, water bottle, library bag, diary, raincoat and a homework exercise book twice a week in her school bag.

Loading

Natalija is in year 6 at a public school and her school bag contains a lunch box, water bottle, exercise book, phone, library bag, a pouch of personal hygiene products and a small umbrella.

Raskovic, from Gregory Hills, said the girls were at new schools and were happy with the design and weight of their bags.

As part of advice to parents on the safe use of portable computers, the NSW Department of Education advises schools and parents that any load carried by a student should not exceed 10 per cent of their body weight. Schools also offer advice to parents about how to pack and wear backpacks.

“To minimise the weight in students’ backpacks, schools in consultation with parents/carers do use digital textbooks where available and appropriate to deliver the NSW school curriculum,” a spokeswoman said.

Loading

Macquarie University professor of physiotherapy Mark Hancock said the spine was much stronger than most people realised and British researchers found the weight and design of a school bag did not increase the risk of children having back pain.

“However, a heavy bag may cause some irritation of joints and muscles in the spine, especially if the weight changes rapidly and the child is not accustomed to carrying that load,” he said.

Hancock said common sense suggested a school bag should be a comfortable weight depending on the age and size of a child.

Pates said the prevalence of low back pain increased during adolescence “and in the past, it was easy to point to heavy backpacks as a problem”.

“So maybe rather than focusing on backpack weight, we should check in with our kids on how they feel carrying their backpacks,” she said.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.