GIVEAWAY: IMPACT Ergonomic Backpack and Accessories for Primary School by Ergoworks

EDIT 24.10.18: Congratulations Anna Tai and @chrisjinbusy! You have won yourself a backpack each for your kid!

I had been gathering information from friends whose children are in Primary School, "Is there a need to consider ergonomic school bags? Or any regular bag will do?" 

The response came back varied, almost extreme. 

On one end of the spectrum, "Yes. I do feel it is important because my child's bag is really heavy. Body posture is crucial and I don't want her suffer from back and neck strains in the long run. It's worth the investment."

On the other end of the spectrum, "Aiya. Don't need lah. Just buy one cheap one off the shelf can already."

I was ready to get a cheap S$20 school bag for Ewan but ditched the idea after gathering my own statistics from conversations with other moms. An ergonomic backpack would do Ewan good since I have no intention of carrying his school bag for him at school pick-up. I myself suffer from back issues and I know how annoying it can be when it hinders my daily routine.

Carrying school bags that are too heavy or even poorly designed can lead to back problems later in life. Research states that ideally, children should not carry a school bag which weighs more that 10%  of their body weight. Thus if a child weighs 30kg, then the schoolbag should not weigh more than 3kg. However, Health Promotion Board's advice is for children to carry no more than 15 per cent of their bodyweight. In practice, that would generally mean no more than 3.5kg to 5kg for a child in the first few years of school.

I just did a quick weigh on a potential bagful of books Ewan has to carry to school and it is already 3kg without his water bottle! My son weighs only 19kg. This means he would be carrying more than 15% of his body weight around from the beginning of next year.

I am not implying that an ergonomic backpack will miraculously lighten the school bag by a kilogram or two but the weight distribution will help the spine a whole lot. Still, school bags shouldn't be overloaded way beyond a child's weight.

Dr. Kevin Loughlin, a chiropractor, quoted "The human skeleton doesn't really form completely until a person is between 19 and 22 years old, so you can actually create physically change in a person by overloading their spine and overloading their capacity to carry weights."

While I do not know if his Primary School allows children to leave certain books behind in class or lockers to lessen the weight of their bags, I acknowledge the importance of a good designed backpack with spinal support for soon-to-be sevens.

There are about 50 bags hanging on the wall at Ergoworks but we shortlisted four that were suitable for Ewan's frame. Thank goodness we zeroed in to just four because I would have gone bonkers choosing the right design for him if I had to decide amongst 50.

My first two choices were the store's latest models. They are handsome and versatile to any occasions. I'd love a bag to match his school uniform rather than one that bears a contrasting colour.  One that is not kiddish-looking because I don't like to dress my children up like a cartoon character.  Unfortunately, one was too big for his frame and the other, he didn't fancy.

[Shop this style]
Note: There is a 20% trade in offer (any condition of IMPACT Ergonomic bag) and 15% discount with SAFRA membership card or Cordlife Circle membership card (discount applicable for regular priced bags only)

He chose the last one that was presented to him. A playful number with yellow trimmings on the zippers. Although I didn't quite like the design, I cannot deny it sat perfectly well on his back with a visible S-Curve back support. Ewan's exact words, "This is the most comfortable mommy. I like this." 

I deliberated between comfort and design [women make the most impractical decisions because they'd rather a three inch heel that looks amazing than a one inch heel that is comfortable]. Then I came to a conclusion to let my son decide for himself. After all, he is the one carrying that bag. He is the one going to school. And he deserves to be the one feeling all proud about the choices he made.

[Shop this style]
Note: There is a 20% trade in offer (any condition of IMPACT Ergonomic bag) and 15% discount with SAFRA membership card or Cordlife Circle membership card (discount applicable for regular priced bags only)

When it was time to pick out his art bag and pencil case, he went straight for the reds. As if the strikingness of crimson red jolted him awake, he asked, "Is there a red school bag?"

I cringed. Oh no... red doesn't go with the colour of your uniform Ewan? Lo and behold, there was a red backpack just his size. How do you gauge if a backpack is the right size for your child's frame? The bottom of the bag must not exceed the halfway mark of his buttocks. This bag happens to be the lightest amongst all that he had tried [750g], it sits no more than half of his behinds and it snugs nicely around his back. 

Ewan, beyond a shadow of doubt, decided that this was the backpack for him. 

I tried to dissuade but he wouldn't budge and thereafter he announced, "I am so excited about Primary School now!" Something good came out of this shopping experience for sure!

I chose Ergoworks because their backpacks are medically endorsed by The Chiropractic Association (Singapore) and Singapore Physiotherapy Association. To top this, it features the following:
• Patented Airy Light Back-Care System to Reduce Stress on Spine and Back
• Stress-free Backpack Straps / Comfy U Neck Fit Back straps
• USA 3M Scotchlite Reflective Safety Materials
• Multiple Organizer Compartments with Elastic Strap
• Patented Chest Stabilization Belt
• Parachute Pull Rings
• 100% Made in Korea High Quality Ballistic Nylon
• Air Breathable Ventilation System
• Anti UV, Dust and Water Resistant Materials
• The lightest weight of Truly Ergonomic bags in its class / category
 • Feather-light weight design with Sturdy Structure
• High Quality Self Repairing Recoilless Zipper with Loop Lock Design

IMPACT ERGONOMIC BACKPACK

Growing up, our school bags weren't compartmentalised. There was no padded back protection system or compression sides. But I do remember how one side of the bag feels heavier than the other at times. It happened because our books and water bottle moved around as we walked, ran, jumped or skipped. They shift around in the inside and weight gets distributed unevenly.

With multiple compartments, books are kept snugged in a position to keep the centre of gravity constant. This clever design relieves strain on the back, shoulders and neck.

What a good school bag should have:
• Wide-shoulder straps
• Multiple compartments inside to allow the child to distribute the weight more evenly
• A padded back protection system to help stop the load from digging into the back
• Sternum belt to hold the shoulder straps in place

IMPACT ART BAG AND PENCIL CASE

There is a promotion going on right now in store at Ergoworks. For just S$9.90, you get to bring home an IMPACT pencil case and art bag with a minimum spend of S$90 on IMPACT products. Your child will get to choose from a range of colours: red, navy, purple and blue.

I chose the navy of course but I know my son too well. Red because it is the colour of Kai in Ninjago.

IMPACT WATER BOTTLE

We have been using IMPACT water bottles since Ewan and Faye were in Nursery 1. It is a nano ionizer bottle but what does that mean?

The nano ionizer technology is an inbuilt material in the BPA free Tritan USA material and its ionizing function works forever as long as the bottle exists. However, when you start seeing scratches in the inside or it is no longer a clear looking bottle, it is time to change. The lifespan of an IMPACT water bottle is approximately a year.

[Shop IMPACT bottles]

ERGO STUDY DESKS

I scheduled in one hour for our visit but ended up leaving after 120 minutes even for four backpacks! To be fair, I was intrigued by the other products Ergoworks had to offer especially the study tables. I have never considered the importance ergonomic tables and chairs until yesterday at the store.

Chair and desk should fit like a glove. In order to achieve a healthy sitting posture, it must be possible to adjust the workstation, both the chair and the desk, to the child’s height and proportions. As children grow, all Ergoworks kids desks and chairs can be adjusted to their current height and proportions, which makes them ergonomic at all times.

I also noticed that the tables are tilted at an angle. Why? When reading at the desk, the head and upper body are often bent too far forwards, which often results in the person assuming a "hunchback position" as we lean over the level desktop. An erect body posture is achieved when the desktop is at an angle of approx. 30°. It is usually possible to avoid headaches and back pain by maintaining this erect position.

The downside of it is its size. It is very big and unless you have the space at home for it, it can be  a difficult decision to make when considering an ergonomic table. But of course, we can always make space if the health of our children is utmost priority.

[Shop Ergo Study Desks: https://ergoworks.com.sg/workstation-solution/kids-ergo-study-desk.html]

FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY 
Two winners to walk away with an IMPACT Ergonomic Air Light Spinal Protection Backpack [latest model] each worth S$169 for your school-going kid 
[comes in three colours: Pink, Purple and Blue]

Steps to win the giveaway: 

1) like A Million Little Echoes Facebook page

2) like ErgoWorks Facebook page

3) comment on this Facebook post if you are currently using an ergonomic backpack or why do you want to switch to one if your child isn't already using one. Please sign off with your Instagram account if you own one. 

Optional: Share this post and set it to public

Giveaway ends on 23 October 2018, 2359 hours and results will be announced the next day at A Million Little Echoes Facebook page. 

Bonus: Head over to our Instagram page to up your chances of winning! 

Ergoworks Showrooms:
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard #03-140/141
(One level above McDonald's)
Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm
Telephone: +65 6837 3370

Centrepoint
176 Orchard Road #03-36
(level 3 next to LALU boutique)
Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm
Telephone: +65 6836 8488

Causeway Point
1 Woodlands Square #03-26
(level 3 next to Kiddy Palace )
Opens Daily: 11:30am - 9.00 pm
Telephone: +65 6893 8488

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