AT HOME
* If your child is studying ensure they take micro breaks every 15 minutes to stretch their back, shoulders and wrists. Getting out of the chair every 1/2 hr and moving about will help reduce muscle strain.
* Schedule time at home to be active. Kids spend a lot of time sitting at school and on the way to and from. Before getting stuck into homework, take some time to get moving!
* Your child should avoid studying with a laptop on their lap. This causes the neck to be bent awkwardly for long periods and flattens the low back. keep laptops on a desk or table and use an external mouse, rather than a track pad to reduce shoulder tension.
* The abovc point also applies when using Nintendo DS, iPhones, iPods etc. Try to prevent your child sitting with their head bent forward toward the screen. Sit tall, with the screen at eye height to prevent neck strain.
AT SCHOOL
Backpacks should be:
* No more than 10% of childs weight
* No wider than the chest, or lower than the hollow of the back
* always worn with straps over both shoulders
* packed with teh heaviest items closest to the spine, at the bottom of the bag and lighter items on top
* As light as possible. Lockers should be used to reduce the load in your child’s school bag as much as possible
* Put on the ground if it doesn’t need to be carried. If it doesn’t need to be on your child’s back then it shouldn’t be!