Is your child's posture wrong? Here’s how to rectify

Does your child tilt the head forward bending over a phone or tablet? That’s when the angle of the head puts additional strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. Bad posture can damage a child at skeletal, muscular and nervous levels. Here are some common bad posture examples that you must rectify whenever you spot them.  

Sitting in the same posture without break 
This is bad, no matter where they are sitting. Sitting for 6 hours without break on a garden chair, sofa, bed, wooden chair or even ergonomic chair is unhealthy. Tell them to take breaks every 30 minutes. It’s not impossible. But if it’s difficult, turn it into getting up and stretching every hour, and be strict about it.  

Slouching over work 
A slouch is a posture where shoulders are slumped, the head and shoulders bend forward, and the upper back bends in a downward arc. Kids tend to slouch over keyboards, tablets, books and even food. Get them to sit straight. Keep the screen at eye level, not at a lower desk. Food should be picked up and put into the mouth, they don’t need to bend over it.  

Doing homework lying down 
Kids love this bad posture! The book or smart device is on the bed, and they are on their tummy, holding it and bending over it. Meanwhile, their spine and lower back are going out of shape and their tummy is crushed. Simply ban this. The bed is for sleeping.  

Sleeping with one leg bent over or under a pillow 
We all like side pillows, especially in India. But they force us to stretch our arms and legs, and in our sleep we can bend our leg at awkward angles. If they child insists on a pillow, put it at the foot of the bed, where they can prop their feet on it.  

Carrying heavy backpacks daily 
This is not a practice anymore since the pandemic hit us, but don’t forget about it once they start going back to school.