Good posture isn’t just important, it is essential! This is especially true for children as their bodies and minds are still growing and developing.
However, with children today spending up to a whopping 12 hours a day in front of screens, it is clear to see the affects this lack of movement is having on children both physically and mentally.
The effects of lack of movement in our children
The reduced amount of movement and poor posture can store stress in the body. This can lead to other problems in the back, neck, shoulder and knees and therefore make the body more vulnerable to sports injuries and arthritis.
It also causes headaches, shortness of breath, hearing and sight problems and lethargy. This can directly impact mood swings and lack of concentration / alertness.
Left untreated, these can eventually develop into long-term health problems.
We need to do as much as possible to help nurture that growth and protect them for future health issues. Thankfully, making a few simple changes to you and your child’s day-to-day routine can overcome these issues.
- Limit their time spent sat down
In an ideal world, limiting the time they spend on their phone, computer, in front of the TV is an easy solution. However, we understand how tricky that can be. The body was designed to move, and this is particularly important for children. Sitting still for long periods of time is bad for the spine and causes a lot of discomfort, especially being hunched over a phone screen.
Try to encourage your children to take a break every 40 minutes. Stand up, move around and do something else away from the phone and tablet.
When they are sat at a computer, encourage your children have an upright posture. They should sit tall with their back supported and the monitor at eye-level, ideally at least an arm’s length away. Their feet should be on the floor and wrists at the same level as the keyboard and mouse.
- Encourage them to practice standing straight
Encouraging your children to practice standing straight is a great way to get them to start thinking about their posture.
Standing tall and in good balance has the outside of our ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles forming a straight line down the body. Add to this a subtle drawing in of the belly button, helping to lift the ribcage out of the waist.
Complement this with wide open shoulders, front and back.
- Invest in a rucksack
A good bag is essential kit for maintaining good posture at school. A rucksack is your best bet for carrying books as it can be worn across both shoulders, so it isn’t putting too much weight down one side of the body.
It also has straps that can be adjusted so that the bag is held close to your child’s back and the weight is evenly distributed throughout the spine. Carrying that bag will be even easier if you cut down on any non-essential weight
- Set a good example!
Don’t forget that children mimic our behaviour.
It is a lot easier to set a good example to our children by proving to them that you too are taking steps to improve your health.
Our Posture Corrector Pack empowers you with the equipment and the knowledge to improve your posture. By incorporating the simple to follow exercises will help both you and your children to improve your lifestyles.