What is a backpack?

A school backpack remains an indispensable companion for every primary school student. Both parents and grandparents of modern children went to study with it, and it is unlikely that it will ever go out of fashion.

What is a backpack?

In everyday life, the word “briefcase” is often used to refer to school bags, but this is not entirely correct. The briefcase is carried in the hand, since it does not have straps, but the backpack is equipped with them.

Meaning of the word

However, one of the definitions of a satchel describes it as a briefcase with straps. This design was borrowed back in pre-revolutionary times from army uniforms. – it turned out to be convenient to carry in a shoulder bag not only the soldier’s personal equipment, but also a whole arsenal of school supplies.

In Tsarist Russia, backpacks were made in the manner of soldiers' ones - from black leather with a cover trimmed with seal fur. After the war, my father’s field bags were in use. Instead of straps there was a belt, which, however, allowed the bag to be placed behind the back.And in the event of a boyish fight, use it as a very heavy weapon!

Design features of the backpack

The accessory is like a box with straps and differs:

• rigidity of the case, thanks to which notebooks and textbooks will not be wrinkled, and the back will be protected from cutting corners;
• wide and solid bottom, eliminating sagging;
• wide straps and a rigid back, in recent years, as a rule, orthopedic;
• a small and deliberately uncomfortable handle to carry, so that there is no temptation to neglect the straps;
• one or two compartments and many pockets and pockets - convenient for laying out educational supplies and uniform load.

Important! When sending their beloved child to school, parents need to make sure that they are not too lazy to put their hands through both straps, and not carry weights on one shoulder. Otherwise, scoliosis cannot be avoided!

This bag is ideal for a junior high school student.. It would be reasonable to buy a backpack for children of middle and high school age, but this does not fit well with the teenage dress code.

How is it different from a backpack?

Having evolved from a shoulder bag with straps, the backpack has retained the softness of its walls, and this is its main difference from a satchel. It doesn’t hold its shape well; the situation is similar with the ability to distribute the load across the back. Soft objects for studying can become wrinkled, while hard objects can cause serious discomfort to the back.

But it looks much nicer than a backpack, and it’s also much lighter. You will have to buy it when the child stops agreeing to a bag “like a first-grader’s.” By this time (usually by early adolescence), a stronger back will be able to withstand carrying things in a backpack.

Tip: In search of a balance between appearance and utility, manufacturers came up with the idea of ​​​​producing hybrid bags: the product, similar to a backpack with its soft walls, is equipped with an orthopedic back, a hard bottom and wide straps. Ideal for a middle school student or even a high school student!

Criteria for choosing a backpack for a schoolchild

It is better to go to the school supply store with the future owner of the bag - he will be the one who will have to carry this thing. It is only important to take care that appearance is not the main reason for choosing! Primary requirements:

• compliance with weight standards;
• the presence of orthopedic elements;
• equipped with reflective stripes;
• quality of material and workmanship.

According to all modern standards, the mass of weights carried by the student’s back should not exceed a tenth of his own. This means that in the first and second grades the briefcase with all its contents should not weigh more than 2.1 kg, in the second and third grades - 2.6 kg, in the fifth and sixth grades - 3.5 kg. Subtracting the mass of a set of educational accessories, we obtain the optimal number for the mass of the backpack - 0.7-1 kg.

Important! The requirements apply only to subjects for study! Parents should make sure that unnecessary “passengers” do not get into school luggage: toys, game tablets, books not according to the program, etc.

Orthopedists and sports doctors insist on the presence in the design of the backpack of orthopedic inserts, lumbar supports (a bolster at the bottom of the product), special soft and “breathable” pads on the back and straps (about five centimeters wide, equipped with adjustable buckles). The backpack is selected correctly if it fits snugly to the child’s back without supporting the lower back and back of the head.

Reflectors should be on the front, straps and ends.

The backpack, like its owner, faces a difficult life, and this dictates special requirements for its materials. The fabric should be light, durable, easy to wash without losing its appearance. Ideally, the product can be washed with soap and a brush. The fabric of the bottom must be waterproof - you never know what kind of puddle they will drop into?

Pay attention to the seams - strength and reliable processing of edges is required, otherwise you can cut yourself on them. The plastic used in the design must be perfectly smooth.

High quality locks and zippers are a must!

Important! The child will wear different seasonal clothes, and when trying on a satchel on a shirt or T-shirt, you need to take into account the thickness of the jacket, coat, down jacket, etc.

How to choose a backpack for a first grader?

The smallest student also needs the lightest bag - ideally no more than 600 grams. Particular attention should be paid to the back - it should follow the curves of the spine. A sign of compliance with this requirement is pads in the shape of the letter “X”.

Don't be tempted to buy something to grow – the baby’s back will suffer. The backpack, in principle, should not be too large - no wider than the shoulders. In addition, first grade doesn't require many teaching supplies, and in a space that's too big for them, they'll rattle around.

And, of course, the little owner should like the first briefcase!