A few days ago, I went shopping in a big mall. While strolling from shop window to shop window, my attention was caught by a store selling school equipment. In their very nicely arranged window, stood a particular school bag, right in the middle. What struck me was that it did not look like normal backpacks for school at all. I suddenly felt old.
Maybe because I felt disappointed in the distance I perceived with a world that did not belong to me anymore, I decided to look into the subject and sat at my desk with the laptop in front of me to do some research. When I went to school, all that mattered to me was trend – I wanted to have a bag that would match my style, and the fashion of the time. I believe this is still valid for older kids, but what about younger children?
It so happens that nowadays wheeled backpacks for school are the trend. They honestly look like suitcases – those trolleys we usually have with us on short trips. These bags have a long handle so that kids can pull them easily, no matter how heavy they are. They also look very well built and long lasting. And I must admit that, after a first look, I was able to say that backpacks for school with wheels are better than normal ones. Solving the problem of weight on a child’s shoulders simply changing the way they carry their backpacks, makes these bags smart and useful, with a huge benefit on the children’s health. I must admit that, after having observed them for a while, they also seem to me pretty nice.
Naturally, also normal backpacks for school have improved since I last bought one for school, and they are much more comfortable too – and probably more adapt for teenagers. They now have nicely padded and ergonomic shoulder straps which help distribute the weight evenly on the shoulders and back. They also are more resistant and very often built with a water-resistant material which guarantees a better protection of the belongings we carry. They also tend to have more compartments (including one for tablets/laptops) so that order and organisation are simpler and more efficient.
In conclusion, I must say it was interesting to stop for a moment and have a look into the world of young people. We too often forget to look around, to consider the life of others, and it is a shame, as it makes us forget who we were and how we changed while growing old.