If you cringe when you see your kids slouching at the dining room table, lounging on the couch or in their bed, bent over a tablet or laptop while navigating the school day from home, you’re far from alone. With continued school closures across the nation due to COVID-19, families everywhere are faced with the unique challenge of creating comfortable and ergonomically correct and safe workstations for their children.
Even if your kids’ school has implemented a hybrid schedule with some days at home and some in the classroom, having a proper workstation set up at home is immensely important.
“Abnormal postures and positions place undue stress and strain on our bodies,” explains Physical Therapist Nicole Barnes. “Making small adjustments can make a world of difference to how your child feels. If they are comfortable, they’re better able to pay attention, which leads to increased school success.”
Barnes, a certified ergonomic assessment specialist, emphasizes the importance of neutral posture, in which the musculoskeletal system is the most efficient.
“If we can set our kids up with healthy ergonomic habits now, these habits will stay with them through adulthood and serve their bodies well for life,” Barnes says.