We are in the digital age and technology is being used by children at younger ages. Using technology offers easy access to information and entertainment but can have an adverse effect on your child’s growth, development, and their posture. For every inch you look down at a phone or computer, the weight of the head increases by approximately ten pounds. You can add 60-70 pounds of weight to your head just by looking down. When done for hours daily, it can lead to forward head translation which places an enormous amount of stress on spinal bones, nerves and the muscles of the neck and back. Try bending your head down and take a deep breath to see how using technology can affect body functions such as breathing. Looking down can lead to headaches, neck pain, back pain, changes in nerve transmission, and a hunching of the back. If technology is a tool that your child utilizes, especially now being back to school, use these tips to avoid the ill effects of technology on your child’s growth, development, posture, and the associated symptoms.

1. When using a laptop, use a stand so that your child is looking at the screen and not looking down.

2. Show your child how to hold their smartphone or tablet at eye level as if holding a book up to read it. This will minimize the amount they look down. Tired arms are a signal it is time to take a smartphone or tablet break.

3. When using a tablet or smartphone in bed, your child should sit up with their back supported and knees bent so their device is on the knees or placed on a pillow assuring it will be at eye level.

4. At school, your child’s screen should be at eye level, and their feet flat on the floor. Sitting is inherently bad for your spine, but how you sit is so important.

5. Put “passive” screen time or the use of social media limit on smartphones or other devices.

6. Get a chiropractic checkup. Your chiropractor will evaluate your child’s spine, nervous system, and posture and will perform any necessary adjustments to alleviate the ill effects of technology use along with exercises to strengthen any weakened areas.

Technology has become a normal part of life and children are using it at a very young age. Use these tips to improve your child’s posture when using technology. See your chiropractor for a spine and posture evaluation to aid in good posture, proper growth and development, and spine and nervous system function. Remember, it is never too late to make a Shift in Health.