What is good computer posture for children and teenagers?
As adults, we often don’t realise that poor posture at any age isn’t good. Increasingly, we are noticing the negative effects of poor seated posture in children and teenagers not just adults.
The rules for good posture are universal really.
It’s especially important for children and teenagers to learn good habits so they can avoid major problems as they get older.
Below are some tips to help parents with setting up their child’s desk for good posture:
- Use a computer chair with adjustable height, tilt and lower spine options.
- Teach your child to sit with their elbows at right angles to the tabletop and wrists flat, rather than raised.
- Make sure your child’s back is flat against the seat back. Feet should be flat on the ground and knees should face forward.
- For a smaller child, tilt the lumbar support forward so that the seat pan supports their legs as far as the backs of their knees. Use a step if your child’s feet don’t reach the floor properly.
- The top of the computer screen should be at eye level so your child can scroll down with their eyes rather than looking up and down and straining their neck. Use a separate plug-in keyboard and mouse with a laptop, and raise the screen to an appropriate level with a dedicated laptop stand.
If children and adults are sharing a computer the set-up needs to be able to be easily adjusted for each person.
It’s important that your child doesn’t slump or twist while they’re at the computer. Children should also take regular breaks so they’re not sitting in one position for too long. Every 30 minutes is ideal.
This article on “good computer posture” covers the main points, for both adults and children, very well.