I’m totally enjoying the back-to-school updates and pictures I’m seeing – makes me feel like maybe we don’t make a big enough deal of the first day of school. Not that we’re there yet, as Connor doesn’t start until next week. I wish I could be there, but next week is my last week at work before maternity leave and he goes to preschool for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. Kind of hard for me to take off when I only have two more days of work after that…
Anyway, we’re not absorbed in the back-to-school process and trying to find our routine, but lots of other people are. (How’s it going so far?) You’re busy — you have lunches to make and traffic to fight — so let’s just do this.
I have a giveaway for you.
The Ontario Chiropractic Association is offering a chance to win the Pack It Light, Wear It Right back-to-school prize pack including a lightweight backpack and school supplies, valued at over $75. The Ontario Chiropractic Association is reminding parents to make sure kids choose the right backpack, as well as pack, lift and wear backpacks safely to avoid unnecessary injury.
We’ve all been there, right? Maybe one day kids will be carrying one tablet instead of multiple (heavy) books, but not yet.
Tips from the Experts
As part of the Pack it Light, Wear it Right education campaign, the Ontario Chiropractic Association has the following tips for parents to teach kids how to choose, pack and wear a backpack to avoid unnecessary pain:
1. Choose the right backpack. Brand names aside make sure your child picks a bag made from lightweight material that has two wide, adjustable, padded shoulder straps, along with a hip or waist strap, padded back and plenty of pockets. Make sure it fits well and that its size is proportionate to their body.
2. Pack it properly. The total weight of the filled pack should be no more than 10 to 15 per cent of your child’s body weight. Pack heaviest objects close to the body, and place bumpy or odd shaped ones on the outside, away from the back.
3. Wear it the right way. Carrying a pack over one shoulder may look cool but encourage kids to use both shoulder straps, and adjust the pack so it fits snugly to the body, without dangling to the side. Wearing the waist strap is also encouraged for added stability.
4. Lift the backpack carefully. Don’t let your kids just pick up the pack and throw it over their shoulders. Teach them how to properly lift it, which starts by putting the pack on a flat surface, at waist height and slipping on the pack, one shoulder at a time. Teach your kids to lift using the arms and legs and bend at the knees.
Want to make it easy on yourself? Enter to win this prize pack. Valued at over $75, it contains a backpack made of lightweight material with adjustable, padded shoulder straps and plenty of pockets – just the style recommended as part of the Ontario Chiropractic Association’s Pack It Light, Wear It Right education campaign that teaches parents and kids how to choose, pack and wear backpacks to avoid unnecessary injury this fall. The backpack is also carefully packed with all the supplies needed to start the school season off right – including a cool geometric binder, pocket highlighters, apple shaped post-it notes, combination padlock, paper refills, pens, pencils, calculator, mini stapler, 3-in-1 pen/highlighter/page flagger, and a combination three-hole punch and ruler.
(Confession: I kind of want one. I miss buying school supplies.)
Disclaimer: I was given a prize pack to give away but was not otherwise compensated. I just really like school supplies (and really hate back pain).
