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Teach your kid to protect her back and stay pain free.
• Choose the right bag. Look for two wide, padded straps (narrow ones dig in).
• Make sure your kid wears it correctly. Use both straps (slinging it over one shoulder can cause back, neck and shoulder strain). Adjust straps so the bag is sitting about two inches above the waist and snugly against the body.
• Pack light. A backpack should never be more than 20 percent of your child’s weight. Make sure your kid puts heavy items in the bottom center of her bag and stops at her locker to unload.
—SOURCE: HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG