Teach Your Kids These 4 Simple Techniques For Healthy Laptop Use

Knowing how to use a laptop is an essential skill for kids. But, knowing how to use one safely can often be overlooked.

Kids love to spend a lot of time on computers. Laptops are great because they are compact and portable so kids can work on them at school or home. However, the freedom and flexibility that the design of a laptop offers also can cause problems. 

Using a laptop for a long time can be damaging to a child’s posture, eyesight and overall physical health. To avoid these negative impacts of extended laptop use there are some simple techniques you can teach your children.

Here’s 4 techniques you can teach your children how to use their laptop in a healthy and responsible way:

20-20-20 Rule

Children often get so absorbed in what they’re doing that they don’t notice the symptoms of eye-strain. To protect against digital eye-strain, remind them to take breaks. The 20-20-20 rule says you should look away from the screen every 20 minutes, focus on an object 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. 

Get Up and Move Around

Sitting for long periods of time can lead to back problems and other health issues. It's recommended that children should walk away from the screen for at least 10 minutes every hour. For younger children it might be better to take breaks every half-hour. You can set up a simple timer on the computer to help them remember when to do this. By having a break from staring at the screen you’ll help protect and preserve their vision. 

Practice Good Posture

Teaching kids to sit upright in their chair, with their feet on the ground will help promote good posture. Their laptop screen should be positioned about 25 inches away from their face. Raise the height of the laptop so they are not looking down at the screen. A laptop stand remedies this by bringing your laptop to eye-level. At this height your child’s body is placed in a more neutral position. The neck is straight and there’s no more hunching over the screen.

Use An External Keyboard and Mouse

By pushing back and raising the laptop screen with a laptop stand it can make using the in-built keyboard and mouse difficult and uncomfortable. Connecting an external keyboard and mouse will allow your child to use the laptop comfortably whilst maintaining a good posture. 

By teaching kids these simple techniques for laptop use you’ll encourage healthy habits in the future. Plus, you can help them avoid any potential aches, pains or health problems. 

If you require a laptop stand for your child’s workstation we can help you. At Nexstand we have an affordable and adjustable stand that will help promote a good posture for your child whilst using a laptop. For a small investment you’ll be ensuring their health and wellbeing for now and into the future. For more information, click here