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FEATURE TECH

SCHOOL'S IN

It’s 2023. Christmas is done and packed up for another year, which means the next big challenge is on the horizon: getting the cherubs back to school. It doesn’t matter whether your little ones are hitting the middle years of primary school or walking through the gates of high school for the first time, invariably the new educational year will be met with new tech needs for students. While laptop and tablet requirements will vary from school to school (and it’s obviously important to check that before you buy), this month we're covering all the basic tech necessities to ensure your budding young learners hit the ground running. Rest assured we’ve done the hard yards and pulled together a guide to the tech essentials for kicking off the school year with a digital bang.

Top tech buying tips for back to school Check with your school to determine the student technology policy, as all schools will differ. Often, type of technology that is required, so before you splash the cash on a $1500 laptop, ensure that it’s compatible with the school. Work to a budget and, more importantly, make sure you stick to it. Buy devices that are future proofed. Invest in a good protective case or bag for devices. You can never have enough storage in your devices. Many schools will have a safety policy surrounding charging devices, so opt for one with a battery that will last the day. It’s essential to have an excellent security solution installed on your device each school will have a prerequisite for the

In the bag As a parent, picking up a school backpack can often come as a shock. With books, a laptop, and chargers alone, the weight can feel, literally, backbreaking. We quizzed Dr. David Fairclough BSc.(Clin.Sci.) M.Sc (Osteopathy) Grad. ABM at Gisborne Osteopathy in Gisborne, Victoria on safe weights and tips for avoiding injury in those adolescent years.

What is the maximum weight a child should be carrying in their backpack? The consensus between musculo-skeletal related health professionals is that the maximum weight of a child carrying a backpack should not exceed ten per cent of the body weight of the child. So a child that weighs 40 kilos should have a maximum weight in their a bag of four kilos. If they exceed that weight, what potential problems could arise? There are many problems that could arise such as lower and mid back pain, strain around the neck and shoulders. Compensatory problems in the legs and feet through leaning forward to off load the centre of mass can also be an issue. The child's posture can be affected and growth zones in the bones of the lower limbs and spine are susceptible to poor development.

What are your four tips for preventing injury when using a backpack?

1 Don't exceed the ten per cent load limit. Minimise heavy books or tech for the day and plan for what you can leave at home.

2 A correctly fitted backpack should have at least two fitting shoulder straps that hold it at least 4cm above the hips.

3 Get a backpack with padding and wide straps to avoid the possibility of nerve and circulatory problems.

4 Load the backpack so that the heavier objects are nearer the body. This allows the centre of mass of objects near to the body's centre of mass and promotes better balance while on the move with less strain to postural muscles.

that protects against viruses, malware, and identity theft.

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