Heavy school bags carried by children (a massive future problem!)

I understand your concerns and feel you are a lovely caring nanny. Having read the other comments I’m
Sure they’ll be ok. You could always ask if they’d like to try a different bag that can be pulled along? I can guess their answer though. Us grandparents worry about things that our own children think is daft but I think it’s because we are older and have that life experience and we try to protect our loved ones from things that we know could affect their future life. There’s nothing wrong with loving and caring ♥️

Have those advocating pull along packs ever watched a group of teenage boys? As a weapon for flooring your friends nothing could be more effective!

Its a tale as old as time....I'm 59 and carried a heavy bag with books, pe kit, swim kit, and I carried it all on my back whilst cycling to school...my 3 kids did too....even my 3 GD at primary school now, carry heavy water bottles, bag with reading books, swim kit and a lunch bag .....no kid I know is going to pull along a bag......totalky uncool.....when the girls hit high school, ice found they often opt for shoulder bags , so even worse strain on their backs....but they are young they are strong.....don't know anyone who has had a long term back issue from carrying a school bag as a child

Jaxjacky

And is your daughter ok Bumface?

She suffered from back pain when she was pregnant and when she was carrying her boys around as babies but I think she is OK most of the time now.

I used to check her bag to make sure she was not carrying around anything unnecessary that had just been left in there when she was younger.

Our bags were heavy and we were advised to use back packs to avoid scoliosis.
I lugged books, a tuba, and cookery stuff on the worst day of the week.
I picked up my granddaughter the other day and she had a school bag with her laptop in plus cookery stuff plus PE kit. Seems like nothing has changed.

And is your daughter ok Bumface?

As an afterthought my books were heavy when I was teaching.

My satchel was always very heavy. All my text books were hard back in the 50's. we managed and with hockey/ tennis bags too.I doubt pupils would take to a pull along .

When my daughter was at school, she is in her thirties now, I became very concerned about the weight of her backpack.

I found out that in Italy, at the time, they had a policy that school children were not allowed to carry more than a certain weight, I can't remember what it was. The schools regularly check weighed schoolbags as they were concerned about back strain.

I am now concerned about the same issue with regard to my three GS who all carry backpacks to school. It would appear that this issue has never been addressed in British schools and I agree with GLSW8 that it should be. I am not sure if the introduction of pull along packs is the way forward or simply putting a limit to the age appropriate weight of a normal backpack.

My boys carried their stuff in good quality back packs with no problems.
All the usual stuff, plus cookey ,sports boots etc and guitars.
Good training for when they went off travelling.

The only time they entertained a pull along thing was to go to festivals to cart all the beer!

My satchel was very heavy. Spreading the load with a backpack is probably much better but we didn’t have that option in the 60s. Ditto a very heavy briefcase when working. I survived, as I guess did most.

My daughter at art school bought a "granny trolley". The tall brick shaped ones in coated fabric - a huge one.

I don't think she'd have used it at school age though.

I bought a pull along one for my DD at her request, she used it one day and then went back to her old one.

My school bag was heavy when I was at school until 18. I am now 66. Carrying my bag didn't damage my back .

Not a new problem my Children now both in their 30's had heavy bags, they coped and are fine.
If a back pack is put in correctly, it's not a problem.
Pull along cabin bag, I don't think so No teenager is going to have one of them.

No kid is going to pull along a bag
Kids have always had heavy bags, paper rounds before school too I saw one paper boy swing to get his bag on his back and swung himself right off his feet
My grandkids had bags I could hardly lift they’re all ok don’t forget our little 12 /14 year olds a generation ago were at work on boats, down mines, on building sites
My great grandad had to have a box to stand on at a bench but he went on to be a bare knuckle boxer who ran miles a day
They ll be ok I m sure

I think if they are taught to wear them properly from an early age - and that includes using front chest and waist straps - they will grow and adapt to the load. After all that is how knights of olde became used to their heavy armour from a very early age.

NotSpaghetti

Would you be seen dead with a roll-along sort as a teen?

All it needs is that one 'cool' kid starts using a pull-along backpack and they will all follow.

I agree NotSpaghetti you’d be an object of fun.
Bags have been like this for a good many years, plenty of time for any long term damage to have been discovered and sadly ended up with a damages claim.
One of the trials of schooling I’m afraid, they’ll survive.

I think it is very bad for their backs, but I do agree with NotSpaghetti

We had heavy bags too.
An expandable briefcase...
And in my case an A0 art portfolio!

My friend took a cello.

Would you be seen dead with a roll-along sort as a teen?

Back in the 60s my mother used to worry about the weight of my school bag, and that was in the days when we could leave most of our stuff in our desks.

No, I always carried a heavy bag. My Grandson will do the same, he will start year 7 in September. Not looking for things to worry about, he will be OK.

Decades ago when I did a paper round, the bag supplied by the newsagent was incredibly heavy. Especially on a Saturday and Sunday. My father made me a metal container on wheels, which was perfect.