2. E-Reader
Backpacks used to be for books––lots of them for that matter. Carrying them all around can be bad for a child's back. The problem is so common that there's even a School Backpack Awareness Day!
An ereader can stave off back pain by transferring at least some school books to digital form. You can buy books instantly online, often cheaper than paper-based versions, or in some cases borrow them electronically from the local library. Students can easily bookmark and highlight text, and can carry dozens of books in a device weighing just a few ounces.
Ereaders using digital paper from companies like Amazon, Kobo or Barnes and Noble are extremely light.