National School Backpack Awareness Day

Community Toolkit

The materials provided will get you started with your event. For help and support with your event or to share information with your colleagues, please join the Backpack Listserv.

Last year, we really made some noise about backpack safety, with over 500 events reaching 100,000 children and countless millions more through TV and newspaper coverage. This year we want to double those numbers! You can do it. AOTA can help! Start now by completing the Intent to Hold an Event form.

Table of Contents

• Dear Colleagues
• Strategies for Getting Involved
• Event Planning Guide*
• Fun Activities For Your Backpack Day Event
• Tell Your School's Administrators and Teachers about OT
• Requests & Permissions
  • Sample request letter to school or facility
  • Sample permission form for student participation
    • Spanish-language version
  • Sample letter to teachers
• Recording Information
  • Weigh-in record sheet*
  • Pre-Event Information Form
• Handouts
  • Backpack Facts: What's All the Flap About?*
  • Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students: Pack it Light, Wear it Right
    • Spanish-language version*
  • Backpack Strategies for Schools: Help Students Ease the Backpack Burden*
  • OT Tips for Health and Success in School
• Media Tools
  • AOTA's Backpack Awareness Day Media Advisory
  • How to Reach the Media*
  • Sample media advisory
  • Sample press release
  • Nine things to do for the Media
  • Backpack Awareness Day Public Service Announcements
• Event Art

* Files Require Acrobat Reader.

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