How to set up a healthy study space for your child?

How to set up a healthy study space for your child?

The market is brimming with furniture designed to make remote learning easy for children – choosing the right ones is, therefore, a very difficult task. Together with physiotherapists from RehaTrainer we point out what to look for in order to create a study space that ensures continued wellbeing, comfort, and proper development for your child. Let’s not forget that children spend many hours sitting at school, followed by some more (sitting) time spent studying at home. Such a long time spent in a wrong sitting position can cause discomfort and lead to numerous postural defects. So what should we pay attention to?

Adjusting the seat’s height and the desktop’s height to your child’s height

To ensure your child enjoys a healthy sitting position, the height of the seat should be aligned with the height of the desktop, and both heights should be adjusted to the child’s height, so that:

• the child’s forearms rest freely on the desktop at a 90 degrees angle in relation to the arms;
• the desktop is at the level of the child’s elbows;
• the knees and hip joints are bent at an angle of 90 degrees;
• the hips are tucked to the very end of the seat;
• the arms are close to the body and are resting freely, without the need to lift the shoulders;
• the legs are slightly spread;
• place a footrest under the child’s feet in case they do not reach the floor.

The above rules set out the proper way for a child to sit at a desk. Please remember not to ask the child to sit too straight – do not force it. It’s best for the child to gradually get used to the correct position and develop the habit of sitting upright, one step at a time. Various devices may be of help here – such as SpiderMeds, which help turn correct posture into a habit rather than forcefully straighten the back.

ATTENTION: If the chair seat is too low in relation to the desktop, the child's elbows will be lower than the desktop, and this in turn will put pressure on the forearms. If, on the other hand, the elbows are above the desktop, then extra pressure will be put on the wrists and hands.

A properly shaped chair seat

A chair seat should support the buttocks and thighs. Therefore, it is important for the child's hips to remain tucked to the very end of the seat. Another thing to bear in mind is to keep the front edge of the seat curved slightly downwards and towards the floor. There should be a 2-3 cm gap between the edge of the seat and the kneepit (located at the back of the knee joint) so as not to constrict the blood vessels and put pressure on the nerves. If the seat is not shaped that way, then you’ll need to look for a seat pillow to provide the appropriate downwards curve. In addition, such pillows are shaped in a way designed to properly position the child's pelvis and legs, relieve the tailbone, and provide increased comfort.

ATTENTION: The lack of a downwards curve at the front edge of the seat constricts blood vessels.

In conclusion, what to pay attention to when setting up your child’s study space and looking for a desk and a chair?

• height adjustment: adjusting the chair seat’s height and the desktop’s height will enable us to adjust the furniture to our child, in accordance with the rules set out above. This, in turn, will ensure both pieces of furniture will ‘grow’ together with the child and serve them longer, which will save the parents from additional expenses;
• properly shaped chair seat: the front edge of the seat curved downwards (towards the floor). If the seat is not shaped that way, then a seat pillow will be useful;
• enough room to keep the legs and feet under the desk: a desk equipped with large drawers at the expense of foot space will not be the right choice.

Setting the computer screen

If your child sits in front of a computer screen please pay extra attention to how the screen is set. What is the correct screen positioning?

• the top of the screen should be just below eye level;
• a second screen (if there is one) should be as close as possible to reduce the number of head twists;

A screen positioned in this way will guarantee the child does not have to bow their head to look at the screen. They can thus maintain a natural, i.e. straight position of the head, which increases the comfort and reduces the tension in the neck and nape area. Laptop stands and screens that allow for the natural head position to be maintained will prove useful here. When making use of a laptop stand , an external keyboard should also be used.

ATTENTION: The correct, i.e. straight position of the head in relation to the screen prevents musculoskeletal pain in the neck and nape area, reduces the tension in the shoulders, and activates core muscles.

If your child uses an external mouse, then make sure to encourage them to use their non-dominant hand to do so with – this acts as extra brain stimulation and relieves the dominant hand.