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BACK-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS FOR MANY AREAS OF YOUR LIFE

Whether at home, on the road or at work: every day we use products that make our lives easier or more beautiful. But do these products also make your back easier? Discover all back friendly products with the "AGR- seal of approval" of the Healthy Back Campaign. Just click through - you will be surprised!

Back-friendly kindergarten and pre-school backpacks

Lunch, water bottle, change of clothes, favourite toys, handicrafts, “treasures” found... the list goes on – even the youngest children can sometimes carry a lot of weight around with them, especially when compared to their body weight. To encourage your children’s independence, they need to be able to carry their own things and have them available when they need them. Often it is also simply a necessity that every child has a backpack with the most essential items for a smooth day at kindergarten. However, weight shouldn’t be a burden for a kindergarten child’s small frame – on the contrary, with an ergonomic backpack, it can even be a positive developmental stimulus for the developing musculoskeletal system.This is why quality, ergonomic kindergarten and pre-school backpacks are so important for preventing poor posture and backache in children. But what should bear in mind when buying a good kindergarten backpack? Find all the key information and tips you need here.

Customisation options and ergonomics in children’s backpacks

As all parents know, children grow incredibly fast. Sometimes it’s as if you just turn around and your child has grown again. It’s not just the clothes they grow out of fast, but their backpacks too. With this in mind, a good kindergarten backpack should always be adjustable to the child’s body to ensure it always fits perfectly.
Padded shoulder straps are, of course, a crucial ergonomic factor. They ensure that the weight is evenly distributed and that nothing is pressing down on the child’s body. It should therefore be possible to adjust the shoulder straps to the different proportions.
Your child should get used to fastening the backpack’s chest strap right from the start. An adjustable chest strap ensures that the backpack fits snugly on the back and stays in place even when jumping, running and walking.

The right material is not just a question of good appearance

Backpacks for kindergarten or pre-school must be made of a robust material that can withstand heavy use. It is also important that the materials used are free of harmful substances. In the part that touches the back, it is important that the backpack follows the natural shape of the child’s back, is well padded and made of a breathable material. The material should also be easy to clean. After all, children can easily accidentally knock over their lunch, water bottle or paint. Whilst it is not mandatory to have reflective surfaces, it is still advisable to check that your backpack has them. Because even if you take your child to kindergarten, it’s never a bad idea to be easily spotted in the darker months of the year.

Enough space for a kindergarten backpack

Besides meeting ergonomic requirements, a child’s backpack must of course also be suitable for everyday use. Above all, this means: It should offer enough space for all the necessary things, while being as light as possible. Different compartments help your child keep everything clearly organised. They learn to organise themselves more easily if there is a set place for their lunch box, bottle and other important items. Compartments also help to ensure good weight distribution in the backpack.

Can the child open and close the backpack by themselves?

As part of the kindergarten routine, children should be able to put their backpack on and set it down themselves as early on as possible. Of course, this is only possible if the child can open and close the fasteners and straps without help. To achieve this, the fasteners must be conveniently located, intuitive to use and easy to open and close.
Before you buy a kindergarten backpack, we recommend trying it out first! Or look out for quality seals, such as the AGR seal of approval, that test this and many other aspects!

Important: Children should practise using the backpack

Even the best backpack can only provide good back support if it is used correctly. You should therefore make it a habit to practise using the backpack with your child. When doing so, pay attention to the following aspects:

  • Train your child to put on and take off their kindergarten backpack. Your child should know exactly where the straps and fasteners are and how to use them.
  • Instruct your child to always fasten the chest strap.
  • Heavy objects, such as lunch boxes or water bottles, should be as close to the back as possible. It helps to have different compartments with fixed compartments for the individual items.
  • If the side pockets on the outside are going to be used, they should be filled as evenly as possible. For example, if a water bottle sits on one side, it may pull the backpack to one side.
  • Regularly go through the backpack together and remove everything that is not absolutely necessary!
    This way, your child will gradually learn to organise themselves and make the best out of their backpack.

Buy the best kindergarten backpack: Could it get any more comfortable?

It goes without saying that you only want the best for your child. This certainly also applies to kindergarten and pre-school backpacks. A good children’s backpack is an investment in your child’s back health and also makes everyday life that bit easier for them. To make it easier for you to find the perfect backpack, we have put together a detailed checklist for your convenience. The minimum requirements should always be met to ensure that your child’s back is protected. Optimum adjustability and practical little features such as a name tag make it even more convenient. The checklist also contains precise information on the recommended maximum weight of the backpack and much more.
To be on the safe side, you can purchase one of the kindergarten backpacks that we have awarded the AGR seal of approval. These meet all the important criteria for back health and offer a great deal of extra comfort.

Checklist for back-friendly kindergarten and pre-school backpacks

  • The shoulder straps (carrying straps) must…
    • be well padded and ergonomically shaped. For example, a curved design (S shape) avoids excess pressure being applied in the neck area. They mustn’t rub on the shoulder area either.
    • …be able to be secured against slipping off the shoulders, e.g. by means of a height and length-adjustable chest strap.
    • …be at least 4 cm wide and made from non-slip material.
    • …be easily adjustable and optimised for different proportions.
    • …be adjustable in such way as to allow the backpack to be carried close to the body.
  • The part of the backpack that rests against the back must have an ergonomic contour that is appropriate for the age of the child, taking into account the slightly hollow back associated with their age.
  • The side of the backpack that rests against the back must be designed in such way that it is comfortable to wear and that the contents do not cause direct pressure on the child’s back.
  • Seeing that backpacks rest tightly against the back, their padding needs to be breathable to provide ventilation and minimise heat build-up.
  • Children have a natural urge to run, skip and jump. Hence, backpacks should be such that they can be firmly and securely fastened to rest close against the body to prevent them from swinging. This will allow the weight to be optimally transferred from the shoulders to the upper part of the pelvis. For example, this is achieved by using strap systems that are appropriate for the intended use.
  • It must also be possible to position and carry heavy objects inside the bag close to the back, e.g. by means of appropriate compartments on the inside of the backpack.
  • If the backpack has side pockets, care must be taken to make sure these are filled as evenly as possible for optimal weight distribution. Failure to do so will cause the bag to pull to one side.
  • Bags with simple closing mechanisms that are intuitive and easy to use will make it easier to open them and access their contents.
  • The empty weight of the backpack…
    • …must not exceed approx. 300 g for a minimum interior volume of approx. 6-9 litres for 3-4 year olds.
    • …must not exceed approx. 500 g for a minimum interior volume of approx. 10-12 litres for 5-6 year olds.
  • It should be possible to lift the backpack comfortably by hand.
  • Backpacks should be able to securely stand upright unaided, e.g. with the help of a reinforced base.
  • It should have a name tag to avoid confusion in the kindergarten setting

Minimum requirements

  • Shoulder/carrying straps: well padded, sufficiently wide, easily adjustable
  • It should be possible to prevent the shoulder straps from slipping out (e.g. chest strap with length and height adjustment)
  • Back panel: ergonomic contouring, pressure-resistant, breathable - ventilation grooves, non-slip material, lateral guide
  • Sturdy and easy to fasten securely to the body
  • Partitioning: several compartments – heavy items can be placed close to the body
  • Facilitate even load distribution (with pockets on the outside)
  • Intuitive fastening mechanisms
  • An empty weight fitting for the age
    • for 3-4 year olds: approx. 300 g for a minimum interior volume of approx. 6-9 litres
    • …for 5-6 year olds: approx. 500 g for a minimum interior volume of approx. 10-12 litres
  • Practical lifting aid (carry handle)
  • Can stand without toppling over, e.g. thanks to a reinforced base

Other useful features

  • Name tag

Products with the AGR seal of approval

Step by Step
by Hama GmbH & Co KG
Dresdner Str. 9
86653 Monheim
Germany
Tel. 09091/50 20
Fax 09091/50 24 67
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www.stepbystep-schulranzen.com

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