Introduction
When children start school, a new stage of life begins for them, which requires some preparation. The child not only needs clothes suitable for school, but also a school bag in which many different utensils are stored. Most elementary schools give parents a list before the start of school, which lists all the materials the child needs to get started. These items should be purchased before school starts so that the child is equipped from day one. Some of the most important items are
- Satchels
- Pencil case (fountain pen, possibly ink eraser, pencil, eraser, coloured pencils, sharpener, ruler)
- Lunch box
- Drinking bottle
- Sportswear
Satchels – What to look out for?
When buying a new satchel, it is important to pay attention to the DIN 58124 certification, so that a certain safety standard is guaranteed. This industry standard stipulates, for example, that large parts of the visible surface of the front and side parts are made of a material that reflects light or is self-luminous in diffuse light conditions. This is especially important in the dark season so that the students can be seen quickly by drivers.
Furthermore, the stability of a satchel is of great importance. It should be able to withstand being filled with books as well as being thrown on the floor. Accordingly, one should pay attention to the quality of the welding and thread seams.
In addition, one can make sure that the satchel has no sharp corners and edges, so that the child cannot injure itself on the satchel. On the outside there should be extra compartments for a drinking bottle. The side pockets on the outside for the drinks prevent a leaking bottle from wetting all the paper pads.
In order to ensure that the child is as comfortable as possible, it is recommended that parents take a look at the width of the straps and their adjustable length. The straps must be at least 4 cm wide and should be padded to prevent them from pressing or cutting into the shoulder. Another point to consider with a satchel is the weight of the satchel itself.
A normal satchel weighs between 1 and 1.5 kilos when empty. If the satchel is filled with books, exercise books, etc., the rule of thumb is that the satchel should account for between 10 and 20 percent of the child’s body weight. To ensure that the weight is optimally distributed, heavy things like books and exercise books are carried close to the back.
It is therefore important to see whether the distribution of the inner compartments allows this. Furthermore, the interior should also be divided up so that the child can balance the weight of the materials on the right and left sides and can always find its materials in an orderly fashion. The satchel must not be too large for the child, this means that it should not extend beyond the child’s shoulders, should not sit too low and should not be wider than the child’s back.
In addition, it is important that the satchel lies against the body in several places and is padded in these areas. The back of the satchel must be adapted to the body shape of the wearer. In addition, the satchel should have closures that are easy to open and close, so that the satchel is wide open and all school supplies can be easily removed without the satchel tipping over.
Last but not least it is also important to pay attention to the colour and the motives when buying a satchel. In the best case the child is involved in the purchase not only because of the fit but also because of the individual colour preferences. This topic could also be interesting for you: What should my child be able to do until he or she starts school?