Back to School and Backpack Safety -

Back to School and Backpack Safety

Preparing your family for Back to School can be overwhelming, but these tips and tricks will help you make the transition from Summer Break to the New School Year with ease.

• Find out if the school has an online parent portal and how to access it. 
• Add money to school lunch accounts. 
• Print out the 2018-19 school calendar and mark your family’s schedule with all the important dates for the year.
• Designate a spot for backpacks, such as in a laundry basket or on hooks by the door.    
• Set up a homework station with supplies and a quiet place to do work. 
• Have weekly family meetings to ensure communication with the whole family.  
• Keep a large family calendar on a wall in a public area of the home with all events in the same place. This will keep everyone on the same page.  
• Understand your child’s anxiety level – They have many fears and worries regarding their subjects of study, friends, class environment, teachers, and assignments.  
• Be flexible – Alter your timetable to help your kids. Spend quality time with them, in spite of your busy schedule. 
• Ensure sufficient rest – The time for staying up late must come to an end now. Start sending your child to bed early every night and waking them up earlier in the morning to adjust to the school schedule. Make sure that their room is comfortable. 
• Reinforce organization and ease morning stress by making sure all clothes/ uniforms/backpacks/permission ships and lunches are ready the night before.  
• Cut back television and video game time – Instead, make sure your student is reading, working on flashcards or educational games to help stave off the summer slump!  
• Teach them right and wrong – Act out various social situations (such as bullying or peer pressure) and help provide solutions for how they react. 

Backpack Safety 

Picking the right backpack is essential for your child’s health. You can help prevent injuries to their spine and neck with these simple tips below.  

• Make sure the backpack is made of a lightweight but durable material. 
• Wide, padded straps provide support and prevent the straps from becoming too tight. Your child’s straps should be snug, but not so tight that they cause discomfort. 
• The back should also be padded. Padding that sits against your child’s back will provide additional support and prevent discomfort. 
• Look for a backpack with a waist strap. A waist strap holds the contents closer to your child’s back, which can help him or her maintain balance. 
• Multiple compartments are a plus. If your child’s backpack has multiple compartments, it will be easier to evenly distribute the weight of the items inside. The heaviest items should be packed low and toward the center of the bag. 
• Both straps should be worn at all times. Wearing both straps can also help distribute the weight more evenly and prevent you or your child from leaning to one side, which can cause pain in the neck, back, or shoulders. It also makes the loss of balance less likely. 
• Do not overload – especially for children! Your child’s backpack should weigh no more than 15 percent of his or her total body weight. Anything more can force children to slouch or hunch to compensate for the extra weight. Remove any items that are unnecessary, and encourage your children to carry heavier items in their arms, if possible. 

Visit the National Safety Council for additional information and safety tips.