Computer Relate Health Problems - For Kids
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Adults use computers on a lot of jobs, unfortunately, many college
students and adults have been hurt while using them. Using a computer can
affect different parts of your body, like your fingers, hands, wrists,
arms, shoulders, neck, back, and eyes. While computers look safe enough,
there are some dangers that are good to know about, and you will want to
avoid them as much as possible. Read on for some hints on staying healthy
at the computer.
Kid's bodies are a lot smaller than much of the furniture and equipment
used with computers. If you have to use adult-sized chairs and desks at
home and in school, you may be uncomfortable sitting and have awkward arm
and head positions.
There are some things you can do to feel more comfortable and protect
your body at the same time. Let us see what can go wrong and how we can
Your body does not move much when using the computer, so you want to
make sure you are sitting comfortably in your chair.
Fitting the Chair to You
If you use adult-sized chairs that raise you up where your feet don't
touch the ground and you can not sit back against the backrest without
sticking you feet straight out, then it surely does not fit you well!
Pillows, pads, boxes, and big books can be used to help make the chair
fit you better. If your feet don't reach the floor, use a footrest, or ask
if you can stack up some thick books or a box under your feet. Pillows and
pads can take up all that extra seat room that your small body does not
need. This way you have something to lean back against and your feet to
Fitting the Chair to the Computer
If you have a chair that fits you, but the computer is on a table that
is too high, pillows and pads can also be used to help you sit higher if
you need to. If that does not work, try a larger chair or maybe a smaller
computer table can be found.
The computer keyboard should be about as high as your belly -- not
chest or shoulder height where you have to reach up to use it. Your arms,
shoulder, and neck can get sore fast if the keyboard is too high for you!
If you don't have any of the problems above, you may be one of the
lucky kids that actually have a chair and computer table that fits! Some
schools are making computer stations just the right size for kids, some
are even adjustable -- Imagine that!
Even with the perfect chair and computer table, you need to remember to
lean back in your chair and rest on the backrest when you are typing.
Don't slouch or lean forward, as this is bad on your back! Get into the
habit of keeping a good back posture now and it will be happy for a long
But this is not the only thing you need to watch . . .
When your use the keyboard, keep it close in front of you. Don't put it
so far back that you need to reach forward to use it.
Try to keep your wrists straight and level with your lower arms while
you type. Avoid bending your wrists too much as it makes it harder for
your fingers to work and could hurt your wrist over time. Some kids like
wrist rests in front of keyboards to help keep their wrists straight, but
don't rest on them while typing.
Your fingers have a natural curve, like a rainbow or waterfall. Allow
your fingers to keep their curve as you type -- don't stretch and flatten
them too much while typing.
If you know how to rest on the home row and touch type, remember to
move the whole hand to reach far-away keys . . . don't make your fingers
stretch too far from home. Sometimes keyboards are too big for small
fingers, move the hand to the keys and keep your fingers happy.
Thor's Hammer vs. Butterfly Dance
Type lightly. You don't need to pound on the keys like thunder . . . a
light touch will work fine -- think of your fingers as butterflies dancing
on the keys.
Almost all computers have mice now. They are nice to point with and
move things around on the computer, but you need to watch how you use them
-- otherwise they might turn around and bite you.
Some kids like to hold the mouse tightly. However, like hitting
keyboard keys too hard, it is not a good idea. Use a light touch on the
mouse while holding it as well as clicking its button(s). Too much force
on the mouse tires the hands and arms using it -- a form of mouse bite!
Computer mice may be too big for little kid hands. You might try
looking for a smaller mouse or use a trackball that does not need to be
held, and you can also use several fingers at once to move the ball.
Like when using the keyboard, try to keep your wrists straight and
level while mousing around!
Wrist rests can be helpful here as well. Many mouse pads come with
built-in wrist rests to help keep straight wrists.
The Window to Your Computer
Besides your keyboard and mouse, there is also the computer monitor
that you need to keep an eye on. In fact, that is probably about all you
are looking at when you are using the computer -- and that is where a
whole other set of problems start . . .
Left, Right, High, Low . . . Where does the Monitor Go?
The computer monitor (screen) should be right in front of you and a
little lower than your eyes. By having the monitor off to the side or too
high or low, you can end up being a real headache . . . not to mention
that the neck and shoulders will surely hurt as well.
Remember that where the eyes go, the body follows. If you have to look
to the side, up, or down, then your head and neck turn as well. Having the
monitor too low can also cause you to slump in your chair as well.
Sometimes the monitor sits on the computer case, so by moving the
computer case to the side, the monitor can be lowered. If you need to
raise the monitor, a few books underneath it will usually do the trick.
There is also the option of adjusting yourself -- maybe you can adjust the
height of your chair until you are in the right place.
That Blinding Light
Windows and indoor lights can make it harder to use computer monitors.
It is hard on the eyes to try to adapt to see the monitor when there is a
bright light that can also be seen at the same time (direct glare). There
should be about the same amount of light coming from the screen and the
area you can see around the computer monitor. Moving the computer so that
windows and lights are not in front of you, or putting a shade over
windows and lights, can help to avoid this problem.
Another problem with light is that it can come from behind you and
bounce off of the computer screen (indirect glare). When this happens it
becomes harder to read what is on the screen. Moving the light or the
computer may also be possible to solve the problem. Otherwise, a monitor
hood or glare screen may be needed.
Time can pass very fast when you are at the computer, or playing video
games. It is important to do lots of different things during the day. Our
bodies are not intended to hit keyboard, mice, and game controller keys
for hours straight. Take a break and get away from the computer about
every 30 minutes or so -- whether or not you feel an ache or pain. And if
you do feel an ache or pain, that's a sure clue that you need to stop for
a little while! Make sure to listen to your body's signals . . . it may be
a cry for help!
Get up and move around for a few minutes, some ideas are:
- Take a quick walk around the house or apartment
- Call a friend and see how her work on the computer is going
- If you're hungry, grab a snack to give you some energy
Anything you do is OK, as long as it gets you to rest the muscles
you've been using and use the muscles you've been resting.
Pay special attention to your eyes, too: if they hurt or your eyelids
twitch, you should stop for a bit. Looking away from the monitor every
once in a while and focusing on something far away for a few seconds
should give your eye muscles enough of a workout to keep them feeling OK.
Cyberspace and other computer uses can be educational and fun, but
nothing compares to adventures and activities in the "real world". Don't
get lost in cyberspace . . . get out and explore the world around you.
Eating good foods and exercise are great ways to stay healthy. The
healthier you are and the more you vary your activities throughout the day
will help in avoiding problems from using the computer.
Taking care of your body while at the computer means you'll feel better
- and be able to work and play better.
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