Correct posture of the child at the desk and in front of the computer

The reality in which our children live today is largely based on sitting, sitting and more sitting. Depending on their age, children spend several hours a day at school (sitting). Then, studying at home and doing homework is an additional 1-3 hours (also spent in a sitting position). Free time is also mainly sitting in front of a computer, TV, with a mobile phone in hand, sometimes at the table, devoting yourself to creative work. This leading, sedentary lifestyle serves neither the proper physical nor mental development of children.

However, since children spend so much time sitting every day, is there a concept: correct posture at the desk, computer? One that will minimize the negative effects of prolonged sitting by properly positioning the body with the help of a chair and desk?

How to sit properly at a desk?

Body posture is the most frequently repeated positioning of the body and its individual elements in space - while walking, standing or sitting. If it is close to symmetrical, it is considered to be correct. Therefore, proper sitting at a desk is taking care of:

• straight back and propped spine - the lumbar and lower thoracic sections should be supported, which significantly relieves the spine. The backrest of the chair should not be too high or too low;
• feet resting on the ground or a footrest - thanks to this, it is possible to maintain the stabilization of the trunk for a long time;
• knee and hip joints set at an angle of 90 degrees - the edge of the seat does not touch the place under the knees, so as not to compress the structures in the knee fossa;
• relaxed shoulders - upper limbs freely resting and bent at an angle of 90 degrees in the elbows, as well as elbows protruding beyond the table top are the correct positioning of the hands. The child should not lift the shoulders up;
• head slightly tilted over the table - make sure that the distance between the eyes and the pen is about 30-35 cm. The child should not be hunched over or clearly bent over the notebook.

Ergonomic position at the computer: how to sit properly?

 How to organize the space to help the child sit properly?

• The monitor should be positioned directly in front of your eyes so that its top edge is a few centimeters above the line of sight. It is advisable that Fr.the distance from the screen to the eyes was 40 to 75 cm.
• The screen should not be facing the window. It should be placed sideways to the light source.
• The keyboard should be positioned approx. 10-15 cm from the edge of the desk. Thanks to this, the child will have adequate space for wrists. Their additional protection can be a special pad, which is also a soft support. Thanks to this, we will avoid incorrect positioning of the spine and hands, which may lead to their pain.
• Properly selected desk and chair, adapted to the child's height and build, it will positively affect proper sitting. And you have to remember that adolescent children grow a few centimeters a year.

Breaks from a sitting position

However, despite the fact that the child is sitting upright, the back is resting on the chair and the feet rest evenly on the ground, too long sitting becomes very disturbing. It results in frequent changes of body position, most often to incorrect ones. A child, especially at a younger age, is hungry for exercise, and it is unnatural for him to sit for a long time or stay in one position. That is why children keep spinning and drilling, and every, even the best position, after a long time will cause tension and problems with keeping it.

Don't forget about the eyes

During long hours of work at the computer, the eyes also get tired and stop working properly. They become dry and painful, which directly affects the incorrect position of the head and the whole body. Therefore, you should also take care of them, taking breaks, looking away from the computer or book.

Physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle

Often parents ask questions: how is my child supposed to sit at the computer, or how to sit correctly at the desk? In addition to the above-mentioned elements that affect the sitting posture of a child, there is one more extremely important aspect. Is it physical activity of the childthat cannot be forgotten. The child should be encouraged to do so if we want to ensure its proper development. A daily walk, physical activity on the playground or playground, and 2-3 times a week exercises developing strength and endurance, stretching and shaping the aesthetics of movement are a recipe for the proper psycho-physical development of a child.

How to sit right: forming a habit

Proper posture at a desk is shaped every day, in a school and home environment. Younger children require special attention and care for their sitting position. However, it is much easier to develop a habit of correct sitting posture in them than in older children. Any incorrect positioning of the body and its elements that will be overlooked during this period may become permanent and lead to a posture defect.

Parents have an influence on any changes during the early childhood period. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that the child has optimal conditions for learning, that the child's furniture is well-adjusted, that he learns to adopt the correct posture at the computer and at the desk, but above all, to ensure that the child is able to move and exercise a lot.