The amount of books, sports gear and musical equipment children carry into school these days is getting close to ridiculous. At any moment you expect them to fall over backwards.
A common rite of passage is that children carry their own bags from primary school onwards. The pros are obvious: responsibility, building strength, growing up. In the long run though, the cons can outweigh those gains.
What the early years look like
I remember secondary-school classmates complaining of back pain at 13 or 14. Now we see this earlier. In an age of TV, computers, laptops, gaming and phones, the sheer number of hours spent slouched in front of a screen has a real effect on growing bodies.
What to do early
The good news: none of this is ground-breaking. The fix is education and habit:
- Sit up straight. Show, don't just tell.
- Demonstrate good lifting technique with knees bent and back straight.
- Take a break every 20 to 30 minutes from sitting in front of a screen, and move around.
- Limit screen time where you can, and prioritise physical activity.
Habits set young are far easier to keep. If you're concerned about your child's posture or back pain, we are happy to assess and walk you both through what to do.