When we talk about ergonomics, there's one common observation. Most of the discussion around ergonomics is confined to workplace ergonomics, how poor ergonomics affects employees, how employers can improve the ergonomics in their offices, and how good workplace ergonomics is a win-win situation for employers and employees both. Seldom do we see the impact of poor posture and ergonomics on children.
Ergonomics is as important for children as adults; even more, if you ask us. Children's bodies are more sensitive and hence, more susceptible to injuries. Poor posture can do more harm to children than it can do to adults.
It's important to ensure your children aren't exposed to poor ergonomic environments. Your responsibility as a parent is to ensure your child gets a safe and healthy environment where they aren't at risk of developing any health conditions due to poor ergonomics.
How Can Poor Ergonomics Affect Children?
When we say children are at a higher risk of developing injuries and health conditions due to poor ergonomics, we say so for many reasons. It's as important, maybe more, to provide ergonomic conditions at home for your children.
Let us walk you through the consequences of poor ergonomics in children to help you understand how critically important ergonomics are where children are concerned.
Development Problems
The early years are critical in a child's life. Their bodies are growing actively. If your child spends a lot of time sitting in an incorrect posture, whether to study or play games on the computer, they can suffer from developmental problems.
When a child is sitting in an incorrect posture with their back curved and shoulders slouched, the bones and spine that are still developing take a definite curved shape which can get extremely difficult to correct in later years in their life.
When the spine becomes curved permanently, the strain on the lower back and the muscles and tendons of the lower body is continuous, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in children. These disorders are characterized by pain in the shoulders, neck, and back.
Chronic Pains
As we've said above, sitting in an incorrect posture for extended durations puts excessive strain on the muscles and the tendons, increasing the risk of muscle fatigue, which, if not addressed, can exacerbate chronic pains. If you don't address these problems early on, the pain will worsen and lead to life-long health conditions.
Headache and Eye Strain
Other major consequences of poor ergonomics in children are headaches and eye strain. A poor ergonomic environment doesn't only mean your child is sitting in an incorrect posture. It also encompasses various other aspects like poor lighting and inappropriate distance from the monitor. If your child is sitting too close to the monitor, the glare from the computer screen can cause eye strain and headaches. If your child continues to use the computer with the screen too close or the glare too high, their eyesight can also be affected.
Benefits of Ergonomic Furniture for Children
You certainly wouldn't want your children to suffer simply because you were too ignorant or negligent regarding ergonomics. We can't stress enough the fact that ergonomics for children are as important as they are for adults. Just like offices are taking steps to improve ergonomics around the workplace, schools should also do the same for the students. The good news is that the awareness about the significance of ergonomics in children is increasing, and many schools are already seen taking the right measures.
Ergonomic furniture doesn't come cheap, but if you look at the benefits, you'll know that every penny you spend on ergonomic furniture for children is worth it!
Let's look at the many benefits of ergonomic furniture for children:
Promotes Healthy Posture
The root cause of most health problems in children is poor posture, and if you can correct your child's posture, you reduce the risk of them developing any posture-related health conditions like musculoskeletal disorders.
One of the biggest benefits of ergonomic furniture for children is posture correction. When your child is sitting on an ergonomic chair and using an ergonomic desk, they'll be encouraged to sit in the correct posture.
Regular chairs can't be adjusted to meet individual comfort needs. However, an ergonomic chair can be. This is what sets ergonomic chairs like the Ergonomic Office Chair (C2) apart from the regular chairs. You can ensure that the chair is adjusted to the right height for your child so that your child's feet are placed flat on the floor. An ergonomic chair also provides superior support to the back and reduces strain, reducing the incidence of back and shoulder pain.
Then comes an ergonomic desk. The ergonomic desk height can be adjusted according to your child's height. This ensures that your child doesn't have to sit with their back bent to reach a desk that's too low or sit with their back stretched to reach a desk that's too high. Your child should sit with their shoulders and back relaxed, and that's what ergonomic furniture would help them with.
Offer Superior Back Support
We've said this earlier, and we're saying it again; your child's spine is very tender. It's still developing and isn't as strong as adults. If your child sits with their back curved, the spine will become curved permanently, and other health conditions will follow this in the long run. This is where ergonomic furniture can come in to benefit your child.
Ergonomic chairs for children are designed specifically to provide superior back support. The back support is contoured and curved such that it holds the lower back and ensures that there's no strain on it. There's adequate support for the shoulders as well, which means your child's shoulders won't get stiff, and they won't feel tired or exhausted.
Even ergonomic desks offer benefits for your child's back. You may wonder how. Well, when the desk is at a suitable height, your child doesn't have to stretch or bend their back to reach the desk. They sit in a neutral posture where their back is fully relaxed and supported by the backrest. This way, the strain on the back is further reduced.
Reduces Eye Strain
Another benefit of ergonomic furniture for children is reduced eye strain. Eye strain is due to a number of reasons; the computer screen is placed too close to the user, the glare from the screen is high, or the computer monitor is placed at an awkward angle. One of the most essential pieces of ergonomic equipment for children (and adults) is an adjustable monitor stand or mount. It's an exterior monitor mount with an adjustable arm. The user can bring the monitor closer or move or further away. They can also adjust the angle to make sure they don't have to turn or tilt their heads at awkward angles.
The strain on the eyes is significantly reduced when the monitor is placed at the right distance and angle from the user. And with that, your child will complain about headaches less often. Their eyesight won't get affected as well.
What Other Steps Can You Take to Improve Ergonomics for Your Children at Home?
Investing in the right ergonomic furniture for your children is one way (the most promising one, we would say) to ensure your child's safety and health, but there are a lot more changes you can bring to your home to ensure that no aspect of ergonomics is missed out. Let's have a look at some other ergonomic measures that you can take:
Improve Lighting
Lighting has a major impact on the eyes. If the lighting is too low, your child will have to focus harder on the screen or on the text in their books. If the lighting is too bright, it'll hurt the eyes and result in eye strain. You should make sure that the light is just right. Placing a study lamp on your child's study desk is one way to ensure adequate lighting. If your child uses a computer for long hours, make sure the computer isn't placed directly in front of a window through which sunlight can hurt your child's eyes.
Encourage Your Child to Take Small Breaks
Another way to ensure your child doesn't suffer from the consequences of sitting in an incorrect posture for too long is to encourage them to take short breaks in between. This would prevent their muscles from getting fatigued, their body from getting stiff, and give their eyes a break from constantly reading books or watching the screen.
Final Word
If you think your child won't get affected due to sitting in the same posture for long hours, you're highly mistaken. The incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in children is at an all-time high right now, and the reason is children's excessive usage of computers, smartphones, and tablets and a lack of physical activity. Now is the time to take the right measures to improve the ergonomics in your home for your children, and rest assured that their health and safety aren't at risk.
