Have you ever noticed your child slouching on the sofa with his phone in his hands? If you have, as a diligent parent, you must have asked him/her to correct his posture. But has it worked in your favor so far? Well according to most parents, it never works!
Diego Passadori/Unsplash | Most children slouch or half-lay when performing activities like watching the phone. You should know that that posture is highly incorrect
The child may sit up straight till the time mommy or daddy are around, but as soon as they leave the area, most likely, the naughty little fella will return to the same position as he/she was in earlier.
If you’re fed up with this habit and want to teach your child proper spinal hygiene, here are some tips to make your job easier.
Get the child a suitable backpack
Often while selecting backpacks, we get attracted to looks and features rather than comfortability. Until our child complains about back pains, we don't realize that we've chosen the wrong bag for him. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this attitude can lead to back injuries, prolonged neck and shoulder pain, and other serious problems for the child. If you want to avoid all these issues, always go for padded bags, which are comfortable and extremely easy to carry at the same time. Plus, don't forget to maintain proper weight so that your child doesn't struggle while carrying the bag.
Tamara Bellis/Unsplash | To avoid back injuries to your child, always go for padded bags which can provide ample support to the spine
Teach your kids proper sitting habits
It's often tempting to lean back on the cushion and rest your foot on a nearby object. But do you know sitting like that can harm your kid's body? As per Allison Talacko, a certified Rolfer, parents should teach their children to sit on their bones. They should ask their children to put the weight of their body on their hip bones and then adjust themselves to the most comfortable position. That way, their spinal cord stays in the correct position, and they’re likely to not face any problems in the future.
Add spinal cord friendly things to your home
If your child has made his bed or lap the perfect spot for resting his laptop or study materials, it's an alarming situation for you. Toronto-based chiropractor, Ann Mussett, says working on the laptop while keeping it on the lap puts strain on the neck. It can result in short-term pain and inflammation, and could also impact the child's growth and development in the years ahead. She suggests parents arrange a proper table and chair set-up for their children, so that their backs don't get bothered by their sitting style.
Push your child to keep moving
Do you know how people get habituated with bad posture? It's simple, by following it regularly. But what if you could replace this bad habit with something good like exercising or following any physical activity regularly? Talacko says by encouraging your child to follow an active lifestyle, you're removing that bad posture from his/her life. When a person is fit or moving constantly, he/she doesn't like slouching in a place for a long time.
Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash | By encouraging your child to follow an active lifestyle, you can remove bad posture from his/her life
Summing it up
Now that you know all the do's and don'ts of correct back posture, we're hoping you would be able to improve your child's spinal health more easily. Even if you face any problem, you can always get back to our page and leave with a smile on your face.
