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Safer Computing - Parents
As a parent, your kids’ safety is a priority. Did you know computers and other electronic technology can be a real safety issue for children?
Consider the following:
- SMS text messaging
- Internet chat and browsing
- Computer and other console games
- Homework assignments researched and written on a computer
This list represents a common range of tasks and activities that a young person might be engaged in. All of them individually have the potential to cause injury as a result of repetitive actions. In combination, they represent a substantial added risk to a child of an overuse or repetitive strain injury. It is the constant repetitive action of the hands and fingers which produces injury to the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the upper body. Over time, cumulative trauma in the soft tissues of the body cause increasingly severe injury.
Many parents would find it difficult to gauge the time spent by their child or children on these potentially injury-causing activities. It is often only after an injury has occurred that parents become aware how extended periods of repetitive activity, such as that involved in keyboard use, mousing, SMSing, consoles and joysticks, can result in a painful disability.
The latest evidence, both in Australia and overseas, shows that children are indeed being injured by computers and video games. Experts are beginning to see children as young as nine with computer-related injuries. These youngsters are unable to tie their shoelaces, carry their backpacks and experience daily pain. Children experiencing pain from activities that give them a great deal of pleasure, such as XBox and PlayStation games, will not admit they have a problem until it becomes very serious. Sadly, such injuries are entirely preventable, yet once established they can lead to severe disability.
Preventing your child from developing an injury
Here are some tips to help prevent overuse injury or RSI in children:
- Monitor and control the length of time spent on computers and electronic games. Set a limit of 20 minutes per sitting with the use of a timer. Don't allow them to go straight into another activity which involves repetitive hand/finger/thumb movements.
- Encourage children to be physically active, especially after periods of passivity such as playing electronic games.
- Set up your home computer as ergonomically as possible. Encourage family members to adjust the workstation when they use the computer. Download the poster How Do You Sit at the Computer? and put it up next to your computer to remind users of safe computing practices. Refer to our Checklist of Safe Computing for more tips. You may not be able to achieve the ideal computer setup, so be aware that simple measures such as the firm cushion on the seat, or a telephone book or two under the monitor, can help achieve a more comfortable seating position.
- Model good computing practices to your family. Reinforce these by reminding children to have good posture, take breaks, stretch and keep warm and adjust the computer set-up to their individual requirements
- Have your children taught to touch type. This reduces keystrokes and mousing, as well as neck strain. Encourage them to learn Keyboard Shortcuts to reduce dependence on the mouse. Also see Your Mouse Can Be Real Pain to find out how to reduce the risk of mouse injury.
- Look out for warning signs, such as wrist pain, stiff neck and headaches. At the very least you will need to find out which activities are causing the injury and take action to stop the activity or reassess the way this activity is performed. It may be necessary for your child to have a complete break from repetitive tasks.
- Be aware of the particular risks associated with laptop computers in regard to overuse injuries. Read our article Safer Laptop Computing for information on preventing repetitive strain injuries while using these types of computer.
