Children and Computers
The number of hours that children are spending on computers at home and
at school has increased significantly in the past few years. Most children
are spending a considerable amount of time daily sitting slumped forward
over a keyboard with legs dangling, and wrists and elbows at unnatural
angles. They are at risk of developing repetitive strain injuries.
In the work place, attention is given to minimizing repetitive strain injuries by using ergonomic assessments. This is not often done in the home work station. There is an increase in the number of children seeking treatment for neck pain, often accompanied by tingling in the fingers.
Most of the corrective changes that need to be made are very simple. For example, placing a couple of books on the floor provides foot support taking the strain off the back. Make sure that the chair fits the child by adjusting the seat height, seat depth and back support. An adjustable chair that can be used by the whole family is the most economical solution. Reminding our children to sit up straight and use the back of the chair for support is time consuming but ultimately beneficial for all concerned. Elbows should be at 90 degrees and wrists in a neutral (straight) position with a gel wrist rest. The mouse should be at the level of the key board and not up on the desk. The monitor should be placed at eye level and directly in front of the child.
By taking the time to check your child’s computer work space, you
may be preventing a whole lifetime of problems.