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Grandparenting

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

(79 Posts)
GrannyLondonSW8 Sat 06-Jul-24 18:33:22

Can I ask how many other grandparents are worried about the weight of their grandchildren's backpacks they cart to and from school? And the toll it takes/will take on their backs in later life.
I've offered to buy my three a pilot type pull-along version so there is the option of using either method when appropriate. One grandchild has a long hill to climb and when I collet her I can barely carry hers it is so heavy what with her school computer and homework books. However a pull-along type is against her school's policy. At my grandson's school parents are obliged to buy the school's own backpack and a pull-along design is not a feature. He says he dreads sports days as the kit, football boots etc together with a computer and homework books, makes his load so heavy he's practically crippled. The teachers don't seem to be sympathetic. The other school children say the same. I wonder if we can get together and encourage secondary schools heads to change their minds and allow the short 'stick' pull-along backpack models? On Amazon they are under £50.

Tenko Mon 08-Jul-24 20:30:06

I too remember the weight of my school satchel, no backpacks then. I also remember a fashion for picnic baskets to carry our school stuff . We carried the basket in the crook of our elbows .
I don’t agree with pull along cabin bags at school , they’re bad enough at the airports . Although I recently took the train at 3.30 ish and lots of boys had pull along soft hold-alls for their cricket stuff .

Franbern Tue 09-Jul-24 10:29:38

Surely, the real answer is for schools to have the cash to be able to supply locking cabinets for all the pupils. Then they would not need to carry everything all day. At least nowadays it is not heavy text books.

Mollygo Tue 09-Jul-24 11:59:40

On the way back from gym today I passed a group of KS3 boys 3 or 4 of whom were pulling something like the one below. They looked full and I wondered how they’d have been able to carry them up and down stairs in the school building.