Posture is one of the key elements which need to be taught from a very young age. Many parents often overlook this and don't know the immense damage it can do to children as they go through their learning journey. Fortunately, this can be rectified with a few small tweaks🤏 and should be enforced every time students sit down at the table or their desks.
Sitting with poor posture can put stress on the muscles, joints and ligaments.
When children have unstable posture, they end up using excess energy to maintain their stability and balance. This can affect how they function and decrease their ability to complete fine motor tasks, school work and even to listen.
Sitting with a good posture for writing increases stability and provides a sturdy foundation for written output and can increase attention and focus.
Poor core strength is often overlooked when addressing handwriting issues but it has a large impact on a child’s fine motor skills and abilities.
Some indicators of poor core strength include:
Resting their head on the non-dominant hand or laying their head and arm on the table.
Leaning forward or very close to the paper.
Moving around, shifting or twisting their body.
Slouching in their chair.
Having their non-dominant hand hold the chair.
Appearing tired or complaining of fatigue.
It is extremely important to make sure that the child is comfortable when sitting at their desk or table. Sometimes, this is not possible as students are learning in various places outside of the general classroom. For students to do homeschooling who do not have access to proper desks and chairs, a few small tweaks can make the world of difference.
Some common issues that may be experienced by homeschooling students are:
The table/desk is too high.
If the table/desk is too high, try using a booster seat or cushions to raise them up so that their bent elbow is about 5 cm above the table.
The table is too low.
If the table is too low you could use blocks, bricks or any suitable object to raise the table to the correct height. Make sure the table/desk is secure.
The chair is too high for the child.
If the chair is too high for the child, try using a box, step or any suitable object for them to rest their feet on. This will mimic the floor.
The chair is too deep for a child.
If the chair is too deep for a child when they sit right back in it, try propping cushions up behind them. Keep in mind, that this may be uncomfortable for some children.
Below is an image of the correct posture when sitting at the table for handwriting.
If you'd like to learn more about correct posture and handwriting, head over to our Home Learning Page where you can find more information about all the fun weekly courses you can sign up too!