Improving your child’s posture

Hands up if you think the Christmas and New Year period flew by? You’re not alone and before we know it the school holidays will be over and the kids will be back to school.

In under a week for most, term one will be here, so it’s time to start getting your children ready.

Instead of focusing on what books they’ll need, let’s focus on something equally as important – posture.

We all know how much kids sit at school, hunched over a desk, leading to bad posture, so why don’t we try and implement some good habits now before term one starts?

Over the holidays, it’s not uncommon for children to spend too many hours looking down at their iPads or iPhones, or slouched down on the couch watching TV.

If this sounds like your child, ask them to lie on their stomachs on the ground instead, or have them sit on a stability ball instead of the couch.

Research has found that sitting on a stability ball will activate those core muscles when they’re trying to balance. Focus on posture, shoulders back, abs activated, have your child place their iPad/iPhone in front of them instead of constantly looking down straining their neck muscles.

A new school year also usually means a new backpack. Naturally, children will often beg for the coolest backpack, but the cool backpacks aren’t always practical.

The one-strap backpacks might look good but unfortunately, they have a negative impact on your child’s posture. Look for backpacks that have two straps as these will evenly distribute the weight across their shoulders and back.

Also, make sure your child doesn’t wear the backpack any lower than the curve in the lower back and place any heavy items at the base of the backpack.

Try these simple tips over the next couple of weeks and see if you notice any differences when it comes to your child’s posture.

If you’re not sure your child’s posture is aligned, book them in to be assessed by one of our practitioners at the Health Creation Centre and get them standing straight before term one begins.

Shannon Driscoll is a remedial massage therapist at the Health Creation Centre in Ocean Grove.