Having faced over two years of intermittent homeschooling, children have had to quickly adapt to new ways of learning. Many have spent more hours at their computer screen than ever before as online learning has become a necessary tool for our education system. Repeated lockdowns have seen many of us setting up a makeshift school at the kitchen table or on the sofa. However, this isn't an ideal setup for a child, whether they are settling down for a day of online lessons or completing their homework after school. To prevent aches and pains, and potential back issues further down the line, we must think carefully about our children’s home workstations. Here is a summary of the things that you should be thinking about.
1. Choose The Right Desk
You’ve recently transitioned to working from home or enjoying the benefits of a hybrid work model. Because of this, you have invested heavily in good quality ergonomic furniture for your home office. So, your little one will be fine settling into work at your brand new desk, won’t they? Or will they? You may be surprised to find out that, no matter how much you have shelled out for your adult desk, it just isn’t suitable for your child. A good kid’s desk is designed to be the correct size and height for their small stature, minimising the risk of aches and pains. A poorly fitting desk will simply encourage poor posture, slouching and hunching. You may want to consider a standing desk, particularly if your child is active and always on the move.
Flexispot’s Height Adjustable Ergonomic Kids Desk delivers all the required features to support your child's learning and development. It is available in a choice of colours - white, pink or blue - to fit in with your child’s style. With a height range between 77.5 and 88.5cm, your child can easily transition between sitting and standing with the touch of a button. The desk also boasts a waterproof top with rounded edges, ensuring easy clear up of any spillages, and a handy hook on the side to neatly store away their school bag.
2. Teach Good Posture
Investing in a good ergonomic desk and chair will help to take the unnecessary strain off your child’s back and neck. But this is no good unless your child knows how they should be sitting when working. This is where you come in. You should take the time to explain the importance of good posture and how this can be achieved. If you practice good posture when sitting at your home office desk, this should be easy. If you don’t, it is time to start!
Correct posture is all about a series of straight lines and right angles. Starting with your head, your eyes should be level with your computer screen and your ears should be directly above your shoulders. Your shoulders should be directly above your hips and your hips should be forming a right angle with your knees. Finally, your knees should be directly above your feet and both feet should be placed flat on the floor. Make sure your child isn't hunching over their shoulders or sliding down into their seat.
3. Organise Their Space
Children can become distracted very easily, so it is important to keep their workspace decluttered and well organised to make sure that their minds stay focused and on track. You can be a bit creative when organising their space, adding some colourful pencil pots to store their stationery and some bright ring binders to keep their paperwork neat. Anything that they use regularly should be placed within an easy reaching distance so that they don't need to keep bending and stretching unnecessarily. You could use the wall space above their desk to mount a shelf for storing books and a magnetic panel for sticking up important notes/letters/memos. Make sure everything is at child height so that they can access it on their own.
When organising their space, you can give your child the opportunity to personalise it. Adding colourful posters, family pictures or a fun calendar. By making the space their own, children will feel encouraged to use it, so you don't need to keep asking the dreaded question - “have you done your homework yet?”
4. Lighten Up
In the winter months, homework tends to be done after daylight hours. The last thing your child needs is to be straining their eyes to see their worksheets, or to combat the glare of the computer screen. Invest in an effective artificial light source to keep their workspace well-lit after dark. You can have a bit of fun when choosing a suitable light, as there are many quirky kids’ desk lights available.
As you spend the time building your child’s home workspace and sourcing good quality ergonomic furniture, remember that you are investing in their future. Every child deserves a comfortable and cosy area so that they can focus on their studies with no distractions.
