Ergonomics for Kids
By: Penni Rubin
By placing children in front of computers for longer periods of time, we put their bodies at risk when we do not train them to sit properly. During my observations at all levels (from elementary to high school) in several area schools, the children sit on straight, hard-backed chairs (and quite often on unstable folding chairs in order to fit more kids around one unit).
The computers mostly were set up on whatever furniture was available, and the majority of the students that I watched strained their eyes looking up at the screen and sat incorrectly. We should think about children's bodies when we put them in front of any computer.
I recommend creating a report (or a nice flier) for teachers to demonstrate the correct posture and seating arrangements for placing kids at computers. We teach kids at a young age the proper way to brush their teeth, and they, in turn, learn the correct way from the beginning to save themselves severe consequences later in life. (Parents also should be made aware of computer placement/posture at home.)
The studies I have been reading on this matter are for one person sitting and using one computer, yet, in schools, we do not have this luxury. The solution for schools is to educate teachers and students how to sit as properly as they can for using the equipment made available at the current time.
We should be extremely cautious and concerned about what happens when two to four kids (multi-users) are sitting and using one fixed computer at a makeshift desk with no consideration of: the following:
* Table/desk height
* Eye/screen level
* Neck positions
* Wrist angle
* Kind of chairs (back support)
* Foot/leg position & height
There are four main concerns for physically seating kids at any computer.
1. The positioning of hands and wrists should be that elbows remain at 90 degrees at sides of body with arms perpendicular, with hands flat and wrists just hovering over a cushioned support pad, lifted slightly upwards, tapping gently on the keys or pushing mouse.
2. An adjustable-height padded chair with an extra back support for the lower back lumbar curve should be provided.
3. Appropriate eye level of screen and reading holder causes fewer neck and head aches (along with eyestrain). Looking down or eye level, not up, is correct.
4. Feet should be flat on floor with knees at right angles and knees going past the seat a few inches. Keeping weight equally divided means pressure off of the spine.
A real problem in schools is that there is little consideration of the furniture and the size and adjustability of the equipment or how kids are placed and seated at work stations. Because there are multiple users, the furniture has to be adjusted to fit each child's needs. Whether it’s a desk set up in the back of the room, a table, or an actual computer lab room, we all must learn to sit correctly, teachers included.
A wrist pad support in the front of the keyboard and the mouse encourages wrists to be lifted upwards and flatter. Slanting the keyboard by raising the back a bit with a long block or skinny gift box can help. A chair with arms can also help but would be in the way when more than one student is at the computer.
There should be padding on the back and especially the seat, with an extra support at the lumbar curve of the mid-to-lower back.
The chair and computer screen should be adjustable, to be raised and lowered for individual heights of different children and to lift or lower any computer so that the top of the screen will be just at or below eye level. The reading stand needs to be placed at that same level also. The primary reading work, whether it is on the screen or on a reading stand, needs to be placed and switched, directly in front, at eye level.
A step, a small stool, or a hollow block should be made available for kids with short legs. A sign should be placed on the wall to remind kids of this: Balance weight between seat and feet (flat on floor).
Even though the arguments can be, "But kids only use computers for a short time each day," I believe that, over time, all of this will play havoc on their systems. We do need to limit their computer time. Schools and teachers need to remember to warn and help children develop proper posture when working at computers.
When setting up stations, no matter what "oldie but goodie" computer is available at the time, the eye level of the screen needs to be correct (eyes at top of screen) for kids to avoid neck and eye strain, so adults should provide adjustable chairs and tables.
Table/desk height verses chair height should be looked into in labs and in classrooms. When developing actual computer labs, proper tables and padded chairs hopefully will be ordered. There needs to be optional equipment for wrist and foot placement, along with signs/posters warning and reminding kids of three main rules:
* Keep wrists and feet flat
* Keep elbows and knees at 90 degrees
* Balance weight between feet and seat
In the films that I viewed and books that I read, exercises were stressed for focusing and refocusing eyes, getting up and walking away at times, and also doing warm-ups or massaging hands before and after typing for periods of time.
Penni Rubin is an educational resource specialist and consultant.
