Kamal Ghorui
School bags are one of the very first steps towards a child’s transition into becoming a school-going student. With colorful styles and different designs, these bags carry not just stationery, but also hope for the future. But sometimes, instead of hope, these bags carry weight that goes far beyond a child’s capacity.In India, many parents and children suffer through the same. Thick books, multiple notebooks, a lunch box, a water bottle; certainly, these are the non-negotiables, but is the story the same everywhere in the world? We have to break it to you: IT’S NOT.
What exactly goes inside a typical American school bag, and why does it look so different from the Indian one?
The contrast feels almost surprising in the US. While Indian students often take an entire “mini library” with them, kids in American public schools tend to travel lighter, thanks to different classroom systems, digital resources, and locker facilities.A video shared by Sonal Chaudhary (@sonalbisla), an Instagram influencer and mom living in America, highlighted something similar. In the video shared on Instagram, Sonal asks her school-going son, Lavin, to show all the things he has in his bag. Here are the things Lavin picks out from his bag:
- A book, which he issued from the library
- A water bottle
- A lunch box
- One folder
- The mom and son also listed one laptop, which the son left at school.
Recalling her school days, Sonal then highlights how the story is different now. The mom then notes that kids in America are allotted individual baskets to keep their books and notebooks. Sonal writes, “In America, elementary school feels so different… less homework, lighter bags, and less pressure on kids.While the video may surprise many of us, in the US, it isn’t a special ritual.
The difference isn’t just about convenience, it’s about a child’s growth and health
The need for lighter school bags isn’t just a matter of convenience, research has consistently shown the ill-effects of heavy school bags. A recent study by the British Journal of Pain highlights how heavy school bags are associated with back pain, poor posture, and even long-term musculoskeletal issues in school-going children.This is where the difference becomes more significant than it first appears. Seen through that lens, the contrast between Indian and American school bags feels less like a comparison and more like a wake-up call.What’s your take on heavy bags and where does the fault lie? Share your thoughts with us.
