With the world changing and the landscape of our children’s education changing, many kids are spending a lot more time looking at a computer and sitting at a desk. For many kids (and adults in fact!) this type of positioning can be really challenging!
Here are a few tips from our OT to help your child be as well-positioned as possible:
- Ensure the child’s hips/knees/ankles are positioned at 90 degrees. This ensures the core is supported and the child is not working extra-hard to maintain their sitting posture. Use stools/firm cushions under the feet/back to achieve this position. Ensure the desk/table is at an appropriate height. A good rule of thumb is to see if the child can comfortably rest their elbow on the table when the hand is resting under the chin.
- Decrease the distractions in your child’s work area. A clutter free desk makes it much easier to focus.
- For good visual hygiene, adapt the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 min, have your child look at something about 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes a chance to relax, to decrease eye strain.
