By Dr Vanessa Jalbert-Caputo
We live in a society where technology is everywhere. We are addicted to our cellphones, iPads and most of us are improperly sitting at desks all day. As adults we are running into chronic issues with neck pain, headaches, back pain and much more due to poor posture. There’s a quote that says “it’s easier to build strong children than to fix broken adults”. If we teach our little ones proper posture while using these devices to build those habits early on, imagine the difference it will make for their future selves!
Many kids while using devices will end up in a slumped forward posture. This will put a lot of strain on the neck and upper back creating a rounded upper back and forward head posture. Here are some tips that you can implement so your child doesn’t develop these poor habits!
- Have the Ipad or phone propped up at eye level at all times to avoid looking in a downward position. As a next best option you can simply put a few throw cushions under their device to elevate it.
- Have your child sitting on the floor or in a chair with a straight back. Avoid the rounded shoulders or a slumped position.
- Get them to MOVE! Take posture and screen breaks every 20-30mins so that they are not in the same position for long periods of time.