who thinks the weight of kids backpacks is crazy??

[smithjcsdfw]

I have 6 grandkids and three of them are in school.  The two oldest of my daughter are old enough that they can pretty well handle most things that the school will put in their packpacks.  But the 2nd or third day of school I met the youngest for the handoff between teacher and guardian and I know for a fact that backback she was carrying weighed every bit of 50 lbs.  Not something I would be wanting a 1st grad child to carry.  The contents were a binder.  A library book.  3 spiral folders, a box of crayons, and her lunch box.

[ancmetro]

     I agree some backpacks are too heavy to carry. I think the textbook publishers should use lighter paper or edit some of their very boring textbooks. What are our kids learning in school now? It is time to revolutionise our classrooms.

[beckyguhlke]

i remember my backpack being way too heavy when i was in middle school! you would think by now eveyting would be online...

[CHANEYLAKEGIRL]

I would agree they are too heavy. My kids were always small for their age. They practically fell over carrying their books/homework.

[ButterflyWings]

I agree.  It is not right that hte kids are having back and shoulder problems because of heavy backpacks.  If the kids don't have lockers, what do they do with coats or jackets?

My daughter has to carry her coat or try to shove it in her already overloaded backpack 

[ButterflyWings]

Thanks to all weighing in on this issue...I have complained to school since she started they say lockers cause to many issues,which angered me cause so my kid gets stuck with back and shoulder issues..I went and got her a rolling backpack she was sent home with a warning its against school code WHAT?? because kids use them to trip people and they are afraid of injuries..CRAZZZY...This morning on the way to the bus I carried her backpack to the bs stop which is 9 houses down and HOLY it was heavy for me,my arm was numb..So now I am looking into having her doctor write her a note saying she cannot carry this backpack unless its lighter or she has to have a rolling backpack..So hopefully I can start something to change this..

[kodomfulmanar]

im in college, so i dont need to carry much now, but a few years ago, my back would hurt everyday after school!

[tjshorty]

Schools don't allow enough time between class to make it to a locker.  I think it is terrible to make those kids carry such heavy loads all day.  A rolling pack seems to be the answer so maybe us parents should petition something like that for our kids.  Also I don't see a need for so much homework.  School is like having a job, punch in and punch out when the day is done that should be it.  I don't bring my job home to finish.

[dreamyxo]

Call the school board, get other parents involved.  Call the media!  This is ridiculous.  Is the school going to pay for a chiropractor for your child years down the road when she develops back problems?  No.  Are they going to pay for an operation, disability?  Go as high as you can and knock some sense into these people.  Back problems are no joke.  Students go to school to learn not to be disabled with back problems because their books are too heavy.

[dsanchez83]

My Daughter is in elementary school so her bag isn't heavy at all. But my Nephew is in Middle school and OMG i wouldn't carry anything like that when i was his age i would refuse to carry all that. And ppl wounder why these baby's cry about bad backs.

[DevDeeG]

I am a student...and it is ridiculous. I believe my backpack at some points can weigh anywhere from 40-60 pounds

[ktheodos]

I mean, I'm not there to see your daughter, but I remember having similar experiences in school, to some extent....hopefully it works out for the better sometimes-it's almost like dedicated students get punished.....

[xComet]

I'm in highschool now and my bag weighs around 30-40 pounds a day. More depending on my homework. It sucks but you get used to it

[jenniferhoder]

I remember those days... and Yes I think it's sad seeing these little kids carry such heavy backpacks... I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right??? LOL

[diala84]

It only gets worse the older you get. In college I was carrying 4-5 books a day, 2 class binders, my laptop and lunch/snack. I stepped on the scale and I weighted about 60lbs heavier when I had the backpack on. It had shoulder straps and an around the waste strap that seemed to help immensely. Spend money on a quality backpack with large shoulder straps and a waste strap. It helped a lot.