ERRRRRRRRRRR....ERGONOMICS??

Ergonomics for Elementary School Students

July 1, 2002 
By R. Michael 

While senators and labor officials argue over ergonomics definitions and injury rates some elementary schools are taking the opportunity to improve ergonomics for their students.

An innovative program at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington, is trying to teach students, some as young as five, that fitting the environment to you is a good thing. 

According to MSNBC, some surveys indicate that fourth-graders spend 9 percent of their time on computers; by 12th grade, that proportion jumps to 19 percent. The University of Rochester, found similar evidence when they asked sixth- through eighth-graders whether they experienced computer-related aches or pains at home or school. A total of 47 percent experienced discomfort with wrists; 44 percent with neck; 43 percent with eyes and 41 percent with hands.

The program at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary will focus on teaching children about minimizing awkward postures and the importance of taking breaks during computer work or play.

at http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=414

What is Ergonomics???

     We guessed that now roughly you know what is ergonomics. Well, in case you still don't know what is ergonomics. Here you go, ergonomics is the science related to children and his school, embodying the anatomic, physiologic, and mechanical principles affecting the efficient use of human energy. For example, safe lifting techniques, proper posture, appropriate seating position, and adaptive equipment are only few of the many examples of ergonomics in the school. Apart from that, Ergonomics is fitting the work place to the worker (in this case, the child).  This may be a problem in the mismatch between a child's body size and the size of adult furniture and computer equipment. Children are learning unhealthy computer habits early.  These are then integrated into adulthood.

    When we were young and just starting to school at 4 years old, the chairs and the tables all are in primary student’s size. Everyday, we need to “climb up” the chair and sit on it. I had seen one of my classmates falls down from the chair because she cannot saw the teacher’s writing on the blackboard. Therefore, she stands on the chair so it was on her eye level and accidently felt down. Besides that, around 8 something in the morning, we hardly can see what teacher had written on the blackboard because of the sun shining through the windows. It was hard for the children to concentrate due to the sunlight.

     As we can see ergonomics is very important in our lives and we have to start practicing ergonomics since young. Child care and kindergarten nowadays should always emphasize on the child-size chairs and tables for the children, every furnitures should be at child's eye level to prevent children from getting hurt as in their back, postures, no slouching, their eyesight and so on. Child care and kindergarten who have computer class also need to focus on the children's ergonomics, make sure that children are comfortable with the height of the seat, the distance between the computer and their eyes are not to near or to high for them to see, their hands are resting on the keyboard or table when they are typing and they are not hurting themselves.Parents should also pay more attention regarding this matter whether they have computers at home or not. We should always put the child's concern and needs first.