Back to School, Back to Bad Posture? What Every Parent Should Know
September is here. The new shoes are bought, the pencil case is stocked, and the school run is back in full swing. But amid all the back to school preparations, there’s one thing most parents never think to check — and it could be quietly affecting their child’s health every single day.
Their posture. And what they’re carrying on their back.
The Backpack Problem
Let’s start with the bag. School backpacks have become enormous — stuffed with books, laptops, PE kit, and packed lunches, they can weigh a surprising proportion of a child’s body weight. And yet most children hunch forward under the load, wear them hanging low, or simply don’t give it a second thought.
This matters. A heavy or poorly fitted backpack places significant strain on a still-developing spine. Day after day, week after week, term after term — that’s a lot of cumulative structural stress on a young body that is still growing and forming.
Our advice? Check the weight regularly — a backpack should ideally be no more than 10% of your child’s body weight. And here’s our top tip — wear it over one shoulder only. This allows the spine to respond and adapt naturally, rather than being rigidly locked in place by two straps. Make sure it sits comfortably and isn’t hanging too low, and where possible, lighten the load.
The Desk and Device Problem
Then there’s the small matter of what happens once they arrive. Hours at a school desk, followed by hours at home hunched over homework, a games console, or a phone. The text neck epidemic doesn’t spare children — in fact, young spines are particularly vulnerable to the postural habits formed during these critical years of development.
Encourage your child to raise screens to eye level, take regular movement breaks, and be mindful of how they’re sitting. Small habits formed now can make an enormous difference later.
What You Can Do
At Spirohealth we see the effects of these patterns regularly — and the good news is that young bodies respond beautifully to ABC™ care. Children are remarkably adaptable, and addressing structural issues early means less compensation, less damage, and a much stronger foundation for lifelong health.
If you’ve noticed your child slouching, complaining of back or neck pain, or simply moving in a way that doesn’t look quite right — it’s worth getting them checked.
Book An Appointment here
