Straight Talk - Kids and Posture








Sit up straight! Many mothers chide their young in an attempt to correct their slouching ways. Is it really worth the effort? Should kids really be that concerned about their posture? If so, what can parents do to help them understand the significance of proper posture and more importantly, what can be done to get them involved? Experts concede that a little STRAIGHT TALK goes a long way.




The human spine is a remarkable and intricate piece of physical ingenuity. Typically comprised of 33 vertebrae (24 articulating and 9 fused), gestational formation begins at a mere three weeks post-fertilization. Fascinating indeed, however, teaching kids how to develop and maintain good posture can be somewhat of a challenge. The fact that little ones love to squirm and play about, or that teenagers take up permanent residence in front of a computer, makes this whole idea seem slightly implausible. Nevertheless, before you acquiesce in defeat, consider the following healthy posture pointers.




STANDING TALL

All age groups (from toddlers to the elderly) can benefit from maintaining a healthy posture. It is now understood that posture is, in part, a learned behavior. Children as young as three years of age are meticulously observant. As a parent, are you leading by example and standing tall? If your posture isn't up to par, now is the time to help yourself and your kids. Engaging in good posture, while standing, sitting, or even sleeping, will help to avoid common strains to the neck and lower back, as well as minimizing the risks of muscle and joint overuse, and unnecessary pressure applied to the bones and organs.




CORE PRINCIPLES

Do away with the balancing-a-book-on-your-head routine. Experts advise that parents focus on helping kids maintain and improve their core muscle strength. Engage in exercises that target the upper and lower back, shoulders, and abdominal muscles. Apart from the best exercise of all which is playing, you can target your child's core muscles in an unsuspecting way. Replace chairs with stability balls while watching television or playing video games. Additionally, take time to evaluate the following posture-effecting activities:




Your child's backpack should weigh no more than 10% of his or her total body weight. Backpacks should be worn on both shoulders as designed and should not hang below the waist.

While using a workstation, your child's desk and chair should be at an appropriate height. This will allow your child to sit upright, with knees at a 90-degree angle and their feet will be flat on the floor.

While resting, the fetal position (on your side with the knees drawn up) is the best sleeping posture, on a mattress that is slightly firm.
Misalignment of the spine can occur over time, which can result in abnormal joint wear, fatigue, constriction of blood vessels, nerves, and a host of other ailments. Do your part early by helping your child develop good posture with a little straight talk. Soon you will find that standing tall has never been easier.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Richard_Lane/7580

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