1. Heavy School Bags

2. Children and bag weights
The bag should not weigh more than 10% of the childs’ weight.
Thus a 50kg child should only carry 5kgs maximum!
The bag weight needs to be against the spine, and not hanging from the spine.

3. Weights of stationary Small text book : 400g Medium Text book : 800g
Large text book : 1.2kg
Exam pad : 320g
72pg : g
96pg : g
192pg : g
288pg : g
Ring file : g
Lever arch file: 450g
School bag : 1.3kg
6.45 kg
Thus the child would need to weigh 64.5kg to carry one of each item! And the lunch and pencil bag are not yet included!

4. Different subjects book weights
Light subject
Medium subject
Heavy subject
72pg :200g
192pg: 470g
288pg: 760g
Small text book: 400g
Medium text book: 800g
Large text book: 1.2kg
File/notes:250g
File: 250g
File: 450g
Total weight
850g
1.53kg
2.410kg
4.79kgs

5. Mix them up, result the same
72pg :200g
288pg: 760g
192pg: 470g
Large text book: 1.2kg
Medium text book: 800g
Small text book: 400g
File/notes:250g
File: 250g
File: 450g
1.65kgs
1.81kgs
1.32kgs
Total weight
4.79kgs

6. Time tables and subjects
Most timetables allow for 5 – 6 subjects per day.
Thus a child has to carry for 5 – 6 subjects every day.
Each teacher insists that all the books for that subject are at class……. Let us see what that means for the child’s back!

7. Weight of the bag for a day!
2 heavy subjects
2 medium subjects
2 light subjects
2.41kg x 2
1.53kg x 2
0.85kg x 2
8.73kg
1 heavy subject
2.41kg x 1
6.32kg
1 medium subject
1.53kg x 1
8.05kg
1 light subject
0.85kg x 1
7.88kg
6 heavy
2.41kg x 6
14.46kg

8. Add lunch and pencils! 10.53kg 8.12kg 9.85kg 9.68kg 16.26kg 10.03kg
School bag
@ 1.3kg
Lunch/pencil 0.5kg
8.73kg
10.03kg
10.53kg
6.32kg
7.62kg
8.12kg
8.05kg
9.35kg
9.85kg
7.88kg
9.18kg
9.68kg
14.46kg
15.76kg
16.26kg

9. What should they carry? 40kg 4kg 10.53kg 105.3kg 26.32% 8.12kg 81.2kg
Weight of child
Weight that should be carried - 10%
Actual weight of bag
Weight of child needed!
Percentage of childs weight
40kg
4kg
10.53kg
105.3kg
26.32%
8.12kg
81.2kg
20.3%
9.85kg
98.5kg
24.63%
9.68kg
96.8kg
24.2%
16.26kg
162.6kg
40.65%

10. And for an older child…. 60kg 6kg 10.53kg 105.3kg 17.55 % 8.12kg
Weight of child
Weight that should be carried - 10%
Actual weight of bag
Weight of child needed!
Percentage of child’s weight
60kg
6kg
10.53kg
105.3kg
17.55 %
8.12kg
81.2kg
13.53%
9.85kg
98.5kg
16.41%
9.68kg
96.8kg
16.13
16.26kg
162.6kg
27.1%

11. In a nutshell……..
Most children are carrying 3 – 30 % more than is healthy for them.
The long term effects will only be felt when they have left school!
Even the best bag in the world needs parents, teachers and schools to help solve this issue.

12. The solution! Parents need to contribute. Teachers need to contribute
Children need to do their bit too!

13. Teachers/Schools
Install lockers, in a convenient place for the children to access between lessons. It should not take more than 2 minutes for the child to reach the locker.
Teach the children how to use the lockers. Take only the books you need until the next break.
Allow time for the children to use the locker.
Use thinner books. Why make them carry a 288pg? Use 72 or 96 pg, and bring a new book when the first one is full!
Plan your week and share this plan with the children. Do not change the plan on the day so that the children are in trouble for not having their books there! If you say you are doing literature on Weds, then do literature on Weds. Then all the children need only bring literature books, saving a lot of weight on their backs.

14. Parents
Buy the best bag you can afford. It should have an internal frame to keep the weight of the books against the spine, and not hanging from the spine. This also protects the books!
Encourage/teach your child to use the lockers.
Encourage/teach your child to unpack and repack everyday so as not to carry unnecessary books and clutter with them.
Speak to your school to use thinner books, install lockers etc.

15. Children Unpack and repack your bag daily.
Carry your bag using BOTH shoulder straps.
Speak to your teachers if you are carrying too many books, to find a solution.
Use your locker effectively. Take only as many books as you need until your next break!