How to find a good school bag

Finding a good school bag is one of the things parents need to do as they prepare for the start of classes this June. School books and other materials can get quite heavy, especially for growing children.

 

"Sobrang bigat. Minsan makikita mo talaga na meron siyang mga marks ng backpack niya," said Cecille de los Santos, whose son Carl is a Grade 2 student. 

 

"Sabi din nila, ng iba, kaya hindi daw tumatangkad ang mga bata because napakabigat ng dinadala nila," said de los Santos in a report on GMA News TV’s On Call aired on May 21. 

 

 

"At a glimpse, it seems this practice is good to schoolchildren (but) overloading of school bags can cause side effect to the body of the children... since spinal ligaments and muscles are not fully developed until after 16 years of life," Senator Lito Lapid said in Senate Bill 2179, which would limit the weight of bags being carried by children to school.

 

Lapid filed the bill in 2010, citing data from the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Free State that says carrying heavy loads may cause chronic shoulder, neck and back pain as well as spinal complications.

 

"Sa mga bata pa ang buto diyan, mga spinal cord diyan, gusto mo baluktot ‘yung anak mo?" asked Lapid in a report on GMA News’ Saksi.

 

"Supposed to be dapat may cubbyhole sila. Dapat iniiwan nila doon. Dapat ‘yung mga things lang na important, 'yun lang ang puwedeng iuwi nila. Kaya lang nakikita ko sobrang bigat eh," said one parent Jojo Pablo in the report.

 

Dr. Gia Sison, a general practitioner, advised parents to remember the "10-20 rule," which says children should only carry backpacks that are not more than 10 to 20 percent of their weight. 

 

"So kunwari, 90 pounds ang bata, dapat ‘yung minimum weight is nine pounds. Maximum weight of roughly mga 18 pounds," said Sison in the On Call report.

 

Here are some tips on buying school bags to make sure these suit children:

 

1. Look for bags with two straps, so the weight is balanced. Body bags or mailman bags are not suitable for school.

 

2. The straps should be wide and padded with foam for extra support.

 

3. The bag should have many compartments to accommodate more things. 

 

–Carmela G. Lapeña/KG, GMA News