Backpack safety tips for parents

Weigh your child's backpack periodically. It should weigh no more than 10% of their body weight.
Have your child use both the shoulder straps and the waist belt, if their backpack has one.
Make sure the pack hangs no more than four inches below their waistline.

Is your home computer setup child-friendly?

Choose a desk or chair where the height can be adjusted to suit your child's height.
Use a booster seat or have children sit on pillows to raise them in the chair.
Their back should be against the back of the chair. A pillow or back support may help.

Encourage children to 'sit square in the chair' rather than in a twisted position or sitting with their feet tucked under them.
Feet should touch the floor. Use a footrest, stool, box or phone books under their feet to provide a flat surface to rest on.
Make sure their heads are straight and not looking up or down at the screen. You can raise or lower the screen.
Wrists should be resting on the desk and not bent.
Children should be sitting at least an arms length away from the screen.
The angle formed by their shoulder, elbow and wrist should be 90 degrees.
The screen should be eye level and the top of the screen level with the child's forehead.

At least once every 30 minutes, children should stand up, shake their arms and legs and stretch.
Encourage them to blink rapidly if their eyes get dry and sore.
Eye breaks looking away from the screen at something in the distance every 15 minutes will help keep eyes relaxed.

Always have lights on in the room when using the computer to avoid contrast between the light from the screen and the area around it.
Use an adjustable desk light to position the light where it's needed.
Position the screen to avoid glare, reflections and bright spots.