We have Kid-Size Burgers. Why not Kid-Size Workstations?

Contributed by Elaine Landau

Our society is obsessed with marketing directly to children. Advertisers spend millions on commercials that will appeal to their wants and desires. Every major fast-food chain has meals devoted to pint-sized patrons. Movie theatres and theme parks have separate rates for kids. So why are we so remiss in making sure that our computer-savvy kids have workstations sized just right? It may be time to consider the importance of ergonomics.

Size matters
Many families have a family computer. It is in the family room, den, or rec. room, ready for little fingers to start rat-tat-tatting on the keyboard after school or on weekends. Chances are your kids have had basic computer instruction in school. With computer basics training and learning how to use the Internet, these children can easily log onto the computer for academic projects or recreation. They are not intimidated by new and improved software. They know that they can find computer software training online.

As parents, we need some basic computer learning to keep up with our children. And we need to customize their workstation to fit their special needs. Did you know that small hands should be navigating with a smaller mouse? If your child is sitting in your desk chair while on the computer, he or she should have a footrest for proper support?

Let’s Start with the Hands
The size of children’s hands should be considered when purchasing a computer mouse and adjustable keyboard tray. Some companies offer a child-size computer mouse. Some children like to use a trackball. Try both and see which affords your child the most comfort and ease of use.

An adjustable keyboard tray will help the child attain proper posture, which is called the neutral position. In that position, arms are not stretched to the limit. Instead, each elbow is positioned close to the body and wrists are on the same plane as forearms. Of course, many parents simply hope to shoot for good posture and hope to instill good habits early. Getting your child to sit still and focus may be the most ambitious undertaking of them all.

Don’t Look Up
Without adjusting the height of the family desk chair, your child will likely be looking up at the computer monitor. That position doesn’t seem so bad, since children are often looking up in our adult-sized world. It is recommended that the monitor be right in front of their eyes and about 24 inches high. The child’s eyes should be level with the monitor. Why? This could help avoid neck pain.

Not a Game of Twister
When kids are doing school projects on the computer, they will frequently place documents and books on the floor next to them. They are forced to twist, turn, bend down, and be a bit of a contortionist to use those floor-bound reference materials. This is not ideal for posture, comfort, or time efficiency.

Encourage your student to place reference materials next to the computer screen so there is no need to reposition the body every time the reference materials are needed. It is true that young bodies are flexible, but there is no reason to promote bad habits that will cause discomfort now and in the future.

Do you know that there are non-glare monitor screens available? They are highly recommended, especially if children are gazing at the computer screen for long periods of time. They will help avoid eyestrain for eyes that are still developing.

Have a Seat
If your child’s attention span is short, then sitting in your chair may not be a real comfort issue. However, if your child will be working on the computer for an hour or more, steps should be taken to child-size that workspace. You don’t need to buy a new chair. Many desk chairs have several adjustment options for lowering the seat, adjusting the back and moving the armrests to accommodate a child. If your chair doesn’t have those options, a properly placed pillow can support the lumbar splendidly. A trusty telephone book can elevate the littlest typist. A sturdy box can be a terrific footrest.

Common Sense
If your child is working in front of the computer for an extended period of time, encourage frequent breaks. Every part of the body will benefit from a quick walk or muscle stretch.

Some kids become computer fanatics. Enthusiasm is fabulous, but addiction should be avoided. Be sure your children do not substitute live interactive play with peers with computer games. Social interaction is part of growing up. Be sure computer time isn’t all the time.

Try to keep clutter to a minimum around the workstation. There are those who believe that a cluttered room leads to a cluttered mind.

Parents need to monitor children’s Internet activities to be sure that they are not providing personal information online that could be used against them by predators. Keeping the computer in a common room will allow parents to monitor posture and computer content.

Allow your child to add his or her personality to the computer. Computer-sitter figurines are popular, as well as miniature billboards that can be posted on the computer screen frame. This will help the child “own” the computer, giving them more feelings of responsibility and confidence.

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