Tips on choosing a school bag for your child

Make sure your child tries on the new school bag before buying it to ensure that it fits comfortably and well. — dpa

If parents and children were to choose a first school bag for the child separately, the result would, without a doubt, be very different.

While parents usually want a product that’s good for their children’s health, unicorns or racecars are generally more exciting for six-year-olds than ergonomics.

Naturally, your kid should like the bag you choose for them, as proudly carrying their first satchel to school is a moment many still remember decades later.

But the bag will be a big part of your child’s life from now on, loaded with books, snacks and games, and should have certain features.

First and foremost, a school bag should be clearly visible in traffic and comfortable to wear, so that it does not pull or pinch in the back in the long run.

”Children’s spines are still growing.

"What’s new when children start school is that they have to carry their – often heavy – school supplies on their backs,” says health expert Detlef Detjen, who works for German association AGR, which certifies school bags that are particularly suited for children.

It may feel most intuitive to get your child the lightest school bag on offer, but that’s not always the best option, according to the expert.

”Very light satchels can often only be offered by manufacturers if they leave out stabilising parts,” he says.

“It’s better to choose a satchel that’s lightweight, but still looks sturdy.”

The empty weight of the bag should be around 1.3kg for a primary school child.

However, if the child is more strongly built, it can be a bit heavier.

According to the AGR, the interior volume should be at least 15l.

When buying a school bag, parents should also take a look inside.

Does it have dividers and different compartments?

These allow the weight to be distributed cleverly.

The back section should ideally be contoured, meaning it should mimic the shape of the spine.

The bag’s bottom is also important.

“The satchel should be stable. And no moisture should get in from below, otherwise the school books will get wet,” says Detjen.

The carrying straps should be at least 4cm wide, and preferably well-padded with a non-slippery material.

A chest or hip belt also makes sense, as they will prevent the straps from slipping off when your kid races to catch the school bus – provided that they put on the extra straps.

“My experience is that many children unfortunately, don’t use them,” Detjen says.

From an ergonomic point of view, he advises against school trolleys that children pull behind them.

When children pull the trolley, they adopt a posture that can lead to back problems in the long term.

While it’s most important that the school bag is comfortable to carry, it should also be safe – or visible – in road traffic.

“It helps if the school bag is high contrast, preferably in bright colours,” says Markus Egelhaaf, an accident researcher at German inspection company Dekra.

The good thing is that it won’t be difficult to convince most kids of the value of a colourful bag.

Parents should also make sure that the school bag is equipped with reflectors – or retrofit it accordingly – for gloomy days.

However, reflectors are passive light sources; they only stand out when they are illuminated.

That’s why Egelhaaf recommends to use active sources of light on dull and dark days.

This could be, for example, a flashing mini-LED light that is attached to the school satchel.

“The child will carry it proudly,” he says. – By Ricarda Dieckmann/dpa