It’s Back to School time again!  While your children may or may not be thrilled about returning to school this year, you’re busy doing your part to make sure they have the tools they need to have a successful school year.  You’ve already bought them pencils and notebooks and new clothes, but have you thought about ergonomics?  In any workplace, ergonomics is crucial to preventing injuries, and school is a workplace for your children.  Your kids spend a lot of time doing schoolwork and research, so make sure they’ve got the right tools for the job.  Here are a few back-to-school ergonomics tips from the physicians at Resurgens Orthopaedics Hand Center:

Writing Instruments

You probably haven’t given much thought to the pens and pencils that you have purchased for your kids, but they are very important to ergonomics.  If they do not fit your child’s hand correctly or your child has trouble holding them, they could end up having issues with their hand or wrist down the road.  If the pen or pencil does not have built in grips there are several inexpensive options available to help your child write while decreasing the risk of injury.  Padded pencil grips and specially made pens and pencils are available at office supply stores and online.  

Workstations

In the classroom, kids are spending more and more time on the computer and ergonomics are just as important for children as they are for adults.  If your child has a desk for their computer at home, setting it up correctly may help to teach them what to do when they are using their computer at school.  It’s important to set up their monitor and accessories correctly so they’re easy to see and reach.  Ideally, the text on the screen should be at eye level.  The elbows should be level with the keyboard and the wrists and hands should be slightly bent. 

Here’s to a good start to the school year!  When kids are comfortable and their tools are easy to use, they learn better.  If you have questions about ergonomics for children, Resurgens Orthopaedics Hand Center can help. Schedule an appointment with us and we’ll help you address any existing problems and tell you how to prevent them in the future.