x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Woman jumps into river in Jammu, rescued by locals | Independent Candidate for Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency releases election manifesto | Advisor Bhatnagar reviews progress of major health projects | Ramban land subsidence: CS reviews relief, restoration measures | Foreseeing devastation frustrated Cong leaders stooped low by sharing HM Shah’s fake videos: Kavinder | Kashmir heaves sigh of relief as rains relent; temp drops, minus 1.5°C in Gulmarg | HC Seeks personal appearance of Patwari BB | HC directs PDD to pay Rs 31.90 lakh compensation | Missing mentally-challenged man found dead in Lolab | Azad seeks deferment of polls in Anantnag amid Mughal road closure | IT Deptt conducts surprise check of CSCs, overcharging to be dealt strictly: Chief Secretary | Navigating global shift | Anantnag-Rajouri seat to witness high political drama | POCSO charges among 20 cases against independent candidate | Dynamics likely to change as ECI postpones election on Anantnag-Rajouri seat | Agitating Ladakhi groups “annoyed” over sidelining by NC-Cong alliance | Police register FIR after BJP leader files complaint | Udhampur: Anti-terror operation enters day 3 | Govt didn’t learn any lessons from 2014 Kashmir floods: Omar | Fake videos being sold in ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’: PM Modi | Navy should remain ready to deter adversaries, says Admiral Tripathi | Flood threat subsides in Kashmir | Weather to remain dry till May 5: MeT | Search on to retrieve body of missing tourist | Avalanche warning issued | Warm send off given to SKICC officials on their superannuation! | Retiring DySP(M) Parkasho Devi Bid Farewell with Warm Send-Off | Kathua Police Mobilizes Anti-Drug Awareness Rally in Lakhanpur Area | Ujaas menstrual health express breaks taboos, empowers communities | Back Issues  
 
news details
Adjusting the posture: Reducing the Impact of Virtual Classrooms on Children’s Physical Fitness
Vijay GarG6/21/2021 11:28:30 PM
From getting worried about the excessive exposure to digital screens to a world of online classrooms, parents today must think about posture, excessive screen-time, and the inclusion of physical activities to ensure the health and wellness of the next generation.
Children should be seated with their neck and back straight, elbows relaxed, with adequate support.
Students is now perfectly at home with virtual learning. She/he going into class seven, her/him second year of virtual school amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Where last year was spent getting to grips with learning in an online classroom, this year she, her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents are far more at ease learning and interacting off a computer screen.
The first year was all about adapting to a new way of life and learning for parents, teachers, and students across the country amid uncertainties about the effectiveness of virtual learning.
This year, with those concerns laid to rest and with online learning increasingly looking like it, is here to stay amid the still-raging pandemic, the focus is shifting to the ergonomics of the ‘study from home’ classroom mode.
As classrooms moved to the virtual world last year, it soon became apparent that students were logging in sitting on the floor, on the sofa, or even on their beds. Apart from maybe a study table, used primarily in pre-pandemic days for a short duration, post-school studies, or homework, households naturally didn’t have “classroom” infrastructure.
But students are now spending as many as six hours attending classes at home on a laptop – and sometimes on handheld mobile devices with much smaller screens. As a result, 41% of children complained of eye strain issues.
Health experts warn the resultant poor posture, lack of physical activity and prolonged screen time could lead to severe long-term consequences putting children at risk of developing spinal problems and musculoskeletal disorders.
Poor posture is bad for everyone. But it can take an exacting toll on children as their bones aren’t yet properly fused. This puts them at increased risk of incorrect spinal alignment, causing the spine to form an ’S’ or ‘C’ shape in a condition known as Scoliosis, which in turn can lead to slouching or Kyphosis.
As a result, parents must ensure their children are seated correctly, have plenty of breaks, and are engaged in physical activity that keeps them moving from time to time and while homes will never fully mimic classrooms or the school environment, there are plenty of simple ways parents can do this.
To begin with, parents need to explain the 90-90-90 rule to children. The back and the thighs should form a 90-degree angle while sitting; knees should also be at a 90-degree angle, and the feet and the ankle should be at a 90-degree angle as well. Parents should invest in an ergonomic desk, an adjustable chair of the right size, laptop stands that can be adjusted to make sure they are at the right height, a separate keyboard, and a mouse. At the same time, the study area should be properly illuminated to reduce the strain on the children’s eyes.
Children should be seated with their neck and back straight, elbows relaxed, with adequate support. Feet should also firmly rest on the ground or on a footrest to avoid awkward knee and foot postures.
If a child has to sit on a sofa or the floor or the bed, parents should again ensure they adopt the right posture and use a portable table that will ensure their laptop screens are at eye level so they don’t have to look down.
Parents should create a task-appropriate environment that is equally sensory soothing for children. Ensure the room is properly ventilated, lighting is adequate, and non-distracting during learning time. If possible, leave the windows & doors open, and add some indoor plants to their study area for some freshness.
Another key to mitigating any long-term consequences of the virtual classroom is the scheduling of activity breaks. In school, children are active in between classes, or in their lunch breaks, or even simply walking up the stairs to their classrooms at the start of the day. Parents need to make sure their children remain just as active in between lessons. Parents need to carefully include micro-breaks in the children’s routine which do not affect their concentration & school routine and equally ensure adequate physical movement. It can be taking a short walk or motor activities like coloring or physical writing with a pen or pencil so the child doesn’t miss out on developing those muscles or those skills in a digital world.
Equally, after sessions, parents can engage their children in fun physical activities to build or maintain their aerobic fitness. Before the pandemic, children would go out, cycle, play cricket or football, or play playground games with their friends. That’s not possible amid the pandemic, so parents need to be equally creative to get children involved in fun physical activities like animal movements, treasure hunt games where children involve core exercise postures while playing.
Being indoors and forced to live our lives virtually is not ideal for anyone, not least our children. But there are steps we can take to mitigate the consequences of being locked down. They may not replicate the physical and ergonomic features of a full-fledged school environment. But they will go a long way towards ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU