What's new at AOTA?

AOTA has lots of great events happening this month:

September 17  | New Practitioner Virtual Chat: Solving Ethical Dilemmas.

September 18 | Backpack Awareness Day. Visit AOTA's website for all of the resources you need for a successful Backpack Awareness Day.

September 23 | Pediatric Virtual Chat: Promoting Inclusion. 

September 30 | Hill Day. Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students from around the country head to Capitol Hill to advocate for the profession. Last year's Capitol Hill Day was the largest in history and AOTA is looking to have an ever bigger turnout this year!

Didn't make it to the recent AOTA School Specialty Conference or the 2013 AOTA Conference back in April? It's okay, neither did I! AOTA is currently offering a few opportunities for free CE credits from these two conferences on the AOTA Learn website:

Bully Prevention and Friendship Promotion | This is a self-paced course adapted from materials provided by Susan Bazyk, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA at the AOTA School Specialty Conference. I have taken this course and it is packed full of resources on bullying and pediatric mental health.

There are also two webcasts currently available from the 2013 AOTA Annual Conference Dr. Florence Clark's Farewell Presidential Address and Dr. Ginny Stoffel's Inaugural Presidential Address. To find these webcasts, log onto the AOTA Learn website and type "2013 webcast" in the search tool and both webcasts will pop up in the search results.


* Disclosure: This post is not sponsored or influenced by AOTA in any way. I am simply a proud AOTA member and love to share all of the great resources AOTA has to offer. 

Tips for choosing a backpack

Photo Credit: Comrade Foot via Flickr

It's back to school time and for many students that means it's time to get a new backpack! But did you know that heavy backpacks are a common cause of back pain in students? Today I'm going to share some tips for choosing, packing, and wearing a backpack safely. 

When shopping for a new backpack, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Go to the store and have your child try on a variety of backpacks. This will allow you to find a backpack that fits properly, with the bottom of the backpack resting in the curve of the back and the top of the backpack (where the straps meet the bag) no more than two inches below the shoulders.
• Look for a backpack that rests against your child's back with little movement.
• Sturdy, padded shoulder straps will provide comfort when wearing the backpack.
• A waist strap will help redistribute the weight of the backpack to the hips.
• Take into consideration your child's organizational style. A visual organizer may prefer a backpack that allows them to see all items at one time; a spatial/cozy organizer will want the backpack to feel just right; and a chronological/sequential organizer may want a backpack that contains many pockets and dividers.

Tips for packing a backpack:

• When filled, a student's backpack should weigh no more than 10% of the student's body weight. For a 70 pound student, that means the backpack should weigh no more than 7 pounds.
• When packing the backpack, make sure the largest, heaviest items are packed closest to the body.
• Unpack the backpack each day and remove items that don't need to be in the backpack.
• Limit the number of items that are carried to and from school each day by leaving unused items at school or at home.
• If the backpack is too heavy, consider taking out a heavy item and carrying it by hand. For example, a student could carry his lunchbox or water bottle, rather than placing it inside the backpack.

Tips for wearing a backpack:

• Always wear the backpack with both straps and make sure each strap is adjusted to the same length.
• If the backpack contains a waist belt, make sure it is securely fastened to decrease movement of the backpack and to redistribute the weight of the backpack.
• Don't wear the backpack too low! Adjust the shoulder straps so the bottom of the backpack hits the lower back and the top of the backpack hits two inches below the shoulders.

A few alternatives to traditional backpacks:

• A backpack on wheels can be a nice alternative for students who need to carry around heavier items.
• A rolling backpack can also be beneficial for students with special needs who have difficulty getting their backpack on and off throughout the day, or who cannot safely walk while carrying a backpack.
• Large zipper pulls can make managing the zipper easier for students with fine motor delays.

For more information on backpack safety, visit AOTA's website for Backpack Facts and Backpack Strategies.

What's new at AOTA?

Have you checked out the new AOTA website yet? If not, now is the time to head over and check out all of the changes. Some of the new features include improved accessibility features, an improved search function, and easier ways to share interesting articles and resources via social media.

While you're there, be sure to check out these other great new resources from AOTA:

• Tip Sheet on the benefits of tummy time, as well as an upcoming pediatric chat on tummy time.
• Information sheet on anxiety explains occupational therapy's role in addressing anxiety disorders.
• The new Tip Sheet for establishing morning routines for children contains tips from OT's with experience in establishing healthy and efficient morning routines for children.
• A new FAQ on culturally sensitive practice explains how OT practitioners can strive toward culturally sensitive practices.