Caring for your children requires a proactive approach and collaboration with your healthcare professionals. Our "Your Child" articles present valuable advice for caring for your children from the expertise of our professional healthcare providers. Check regularly for advice to help your entire family stay healthier and happier.

By: Courtney Porter, OTR/L   

• A child’s backpack should not weigh more than 15% of his/her body weight

• The best type of backpack to avoid injury is one on wheels.  However, some schools do not allow these. 
  (PCCD does permit wheels on backpacks)

• Make sure your child packs only necessities for the school day.  Eliminate unnecessary items, i.e. toys from home, favorite books

• When loading items into the bag, place the heaviest items on the side that is closest to the child’s back

• Choose backpacks that have 2 well padded shoulder straps.  Make sure your child wears both straps.  Adjust the straps so that the bag is snug and not hanging loosely.  The bottom of the backpack should lie against the curve of the lower back.  Backpack with waist and chest straps are also great to evenly distribute the bag’s weight

• Keep in mind the size of the backpack in relation to the size of your child.  Backpacks come in many sizes

~ Adopted from The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.  “Lighten Up! Pack it Light, Wear it Right” campaign

Guidelines for Choosing Shoes for your Young Walker

By Mary Ellen Langdon, PT

As we all know it’s easier and more pleasant to walk in comfortable shoes.  We just don’t seem to walk with the same ease when the shoes are too big, too heavy, or just uncomfortable.  Occasionally we find a pair of shoes that we simply love because they make the feet go “aaah.”

It’s hard to figure this out with your infant or toddler, whose walking is new or still evolving.  Here are some tips to guide you when choosing shoes for your young walker. 

• Look for shoes/sneakers with arch support.  Not all shoes have this. It does create more support and comfort to the whole foot.
   

• When choosing a child’s shoe/sneaker, place it in your hand to feel its weight.  Is it heavy or light?  Many of the new styles are heavier and it’s hard to judge this by sight.  Heavier shoes are harder to walk in. Lighter shoes are more comfortable.
   

• Choose shoes/sneakers that fit correctly. Even though children grow out of shoes so quickly, it’s best to buy the correct size, and not a size or two bigger. An incorrect size changes the way a person walks (adult or child).
   

• Shoes/sneakers that add ankle support (high tops) aren’t necessary for all beginner walkers.  It’s best to talk with your pediatrician and/or motor therapist about whether your child may benefit from high top shoes.
   

• Lastly, there always seems to be some debate about bare feet versus shoes (for beginner walkers).  Infants can benefit from both.  Shoes add extra stability and support; bare feet allow strengthening of all the muscles in the toes and foot.