Of course, you, as parents, care for your childrens posture. But it is important not just from the aesthetic point of view. It is necessary for the normal activity and development of the internal organs: the lungs, heart, and digestive system.
Unless newborns are diagnosed with an early case of scoliosis, children are born with a straight back. In early infancy almost no one has a curved spine. In most cases, the curvature is diagnosed in school children. This happens because children spend many hours sitting at desks that are neither suitable for their height nor age-matched. Kids who spend a lot of time sitting at school or at home may be less active.
Considering the importance of your childrens posture, you should develop good posture in your child from an early age. Let’s try to work out with you how to teach your child to watch his or her posture.
- Watch your child’s posture from an early age
You should bear in mind that the formation of posture is influenced by everyday habits: standing, walking, sitting at the table, watching television, and playing on the computer. Therefore, prevent the formation of habits that may affect the child’s posture as follows:
- Tell your baby to always keep his or her back straight in order to be healthy.
- Do not stop correcting your child if he/she sits unevenly, is hunched over, puts his/her foot on a leg, or slouches.
- Watch your child’s posture when they are sitting – their back will be less tired if they are leaning on the back of a chair and their feet are on the floor or on a footrest.
- Teach your child how to lift weights correctly.
- Make sure that the load on the back is even and do not allow your child to carry a heavy backpack on one shoulder.
- Buy the right children’s shoes and make sure that your child does not twist his or her foot when walking.
- Show by your example
You have probably noticed how young children love to imitate their parents. Children absorb information like little sponges and pay close attention to everything they do. So if you yourself have the right posture, your children are more likely to do the same.
- Make your childrens posture a game
Turning posture monitoring into a fun game is an excellent way to encourage your child to practice good posture habits. Making it a game can help your child stay engaged and motivated in their posture monitoring, as they will enjoy the challenge of catching someone slouching.
One way to turn posture monitoring into a game is to encourage your child to catch you or your siblings slouching. You can even turn this into a friendly competition by keeping score of who catches the most slouches. By doing this, your child will not only learn how to monitor their own posture but also how to observe others and identify poor posture habits.
Another way is to set up a chart or a sticker board. Every time your child sits or stands with good posture, they can earn a sticker or a checkmark on the chart. This can help your child visually see their progress and feel proud of their achievements.
To make the game even more exciting, you can offer rewards for reaching certain milestones. For example, if your child earns ten stickers or checkmarks, they can earn a special treat or privilege.
By making posture monitoring into a fun game, you are teaching your child the importance of good posture in a way that is enjoyable and engaging. This can help them develop good posture habits early on, which can lead to a lifetime of good health and well-being.
- Set reminders
Children can easily forget about good posture, especially when they are busy playing or doing homework. Set reminders for them to check their posture every 30 minutes or so. You can use an alarm or a simple note to remind them.
- Praise and encourage your children
It’s a good idea to reward your children and praise them for doing things well. This helps them develop good habits and feel appreciated. Kids naturally want to please their families and feel good about themselves. If you notice your children are sitting straight, make sure to give them a compliment. This will encourage them to keep it up and also make them feel good about themselves.
- Uncomfortable body position leads to bad posture
When your child sits in an uncomfortable position, their body may feel uncomfortable. This can happen when he/she slouches into a comfortable chair and holds the phone low to his/her knees. This makes the neck and the upper back arch too much, and this is not good for the spine.
You can educate your children to hold the phone or tablet at eye level or at a 60-degree angle if it is on the table. Even better if you can buy a special case with a stand that allows you to hold the screen at different levels. It is important for your child to sit with a straight back in order to keep them healthy. Acting on your childrens posture now will help to avoid future pain.
- Engage your children in outdoor physical activity and sports
Exercise is one of the great ways to help your child develop good posture – encourage them to exercise and play sports outdoors. It helps to improve the muscles which are significant for the support of the skeleton.
You should provide your child with a variety of exercises to strengthen the muscles, so they can effectively support the skeleton. Get your child involved in active games, because this can be a fun way to incorporate exercise into their daily life. You can also enroll your child in sports clubs or classes such as cycling or dancing to help improve their posture and overall health.
- Provide a comfortable place to sleep
Arrangements for sleeping areas are very important. A bed that is too soft is not good for children. A reasonably firm orthopedic mattress should be suitable for your child. The pillow should be small and low. You must explain and show your child that the best sleeping position is on your back.
Childrens Posture for the Long-Run
As you already know, good posture is key to the development of a healthy body for your child. Help your kiddo learn some simple rules to grow up to be a healthy and strong human!
Kristen Bray is a professional writer and а blogger. She has been working as an editor at а
Best Writers Online and Trust My Paper. Kristen mainly covers topics such as blogging,
digital marketing, and self-education. In her free time, she practices yoga and also travels.
