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Healthy computing for kids

This section gives a variety of practical tips for children to use computers without endangering their health including suggestions for teaching resources.

As young people increasingly use computers, educational professionals and parents need to take care they’re being used in a way that isn’t damaging to the children’s health.

Computer related complaints such as repetitive strain injury (RSI), hand, arm and back pain aren’t limited to adults, and we believe it’s essential for educational professionals to promote healthy computing in schools. In addition to the information here we recommend the specialist websites www.ergonomics4schools.com and www.tifaq.com/kids/kids.html

Adapt the set up, not the child

Children are extremely adaptable and frequently ignore problems an adult would address. For example they often accept the blurred vision caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism because they think everyone sees the way they do.
Ergonomics: the physical posture
Stating the obvious, children are smaller than adults, and conditions such as dyslexia and short-sightedness may not be properly diagnosed in younger children.

watch out for dangling legs (they should be supported)
adjust the chair to be as comfortable as possible
check the desk height to avoid stretching forward or being hunched
check the screen height: the eye’s should line up with the top third of the screen to prevent neck strain.
check the screen distance from the eyes: about 24 inches away is good
consider document holders near the monitor: cutting down body and head twisting and turning
good quality anti-glare screens help prevent squinting and eye strain (but don’t replace eye tests)

Healthier keyboards

The standard keyboard is not a brilliant design. It has lots of unnecessary keys and is too big. Stretching to reach the mouse is not good for anyone!

small keyboards with smaller keys reduce unhealthy stretching, and are low cost
a compact keyboard is another option. It has standard key sizes without the number keys (a number pad can be bought separately)
both compact and small keyboards allow the mouse to be nearer the user – much better for wrist and arms
‘A-shaped’ key layouts are also available and allow the hands to be used in a more natural position

Tuning keyboards

The keyboard is sensitive, but can be slowed down and modified to make it easier to use if hands aren’t as obedient as you’d wish.

within Windows look for the Accessibility Options and check out StickyKeys, FilterKeys and Mousekeys.

Developing typing skills

Learning to touch type is easily the healthiest option, promoting good posture, reducing head movement and increasing efficiency.

keytop stickers (all lower case/high contrast/large letters)often help children learn to type more efficiently
large character and lower case keyboards are also available
a wide variety of resources including specialist software are available to help develop keyboard familiarity and touch typing skills.

Keyboard familiarity

Typing tuition need not involve a computer and keyboard familiarity for younger children is a good place to start. The following resources are well tried and tested.

Keyboard Crazy (a board game suitable for activities in the literacy hour)
Speedy Keys (Granada Learning)
First Keys to Literacy 2 (Widgit Software)

Typing programs

A good program allows skills to develop without reducing enthusiasm. It should be selected to suit the age, preferences and needs of the individual.

Is a ‘game’ style or structured approach going to work better?

The best software should include:

safe keyboarding advice
a multi-sensory approach, where sound and images are used to motivate and engage
a large, on-screen keyboard showing clearly the position of keys and hands
exercises using real words rather than nonsense
flexibility: for font sizes, styles, background, text colours and sound. Speed and accuracy targets can be increased or decreased
a focus on accuracy rather than speed and an emphasis on short but regular practice
the tracking and recording of progress

AbilityNet has a factsheet with further details. In addition there are tutorials for children who can only use one hand, who are using portable writing aids or have specific learning difficulties.

Alternatives to the standard mouse

A smaller hand needs a smaller mouse. These are readily and cheaply available from many manufacturers including Kensington and Microsoft.
Tuning the mouse
A child needs to be in charge of the computer, not the other way round. Mice can be quickly and easily tuned

for anyone who’s left handed
to slow down it’s reactions
to slow down the double click
to change it’s functionality altogether.
to remove the need to hold down the mouse button when moving copy or images

Or buy a mouse, trackerball or joystick with a third ‘drag-lock’ button – often very worthwhile, with prices starting at around £60

Ditching the mouse!

Reducing keystrokes is better, quicker and healthier, so encourage everyone to use keyboard shortcuts

Wrist Rests – a note of caution

Wrist rests are often used as a wrist ‘anchor’ when typing. This can lead to ‘RSI’ type problems and must be discouraged. Wrist rests are designed to provide a surface on which to rest in breaks between keyboard use only.

Health warning: take a break for 10 minutes an hour

Anyone not taking a break (and particularly children who seem glued to activities they’re really interested in) risks

muscle stress, leading to RSI
eye focusing problems which last long after the original work has been completed
eye irritation resulting from reduced blinking

Monitoring software (an example is ‘Kaz Guardian Angel’) alerts users with a pop up ‘break reminder’.

Laptop users

Lap-tops have their own health risk factors, and the following issues need to be considered:

the fixed relationship between the keyboard and screen makes no allowance for the differing heights of users.
the laptop screen is a large barrier to many children and they may find themselves straining to see over or round it.
the weight: how it can be carried alongside other books and belongings
laptops have a lead in area to the keyboard to allow space for the trackpad mouse. Often this means the pupil is stretching to reach the keys and an external keyboard is needed to achieve the most comfortable and healthy typing position

Minimising health issues with laptops

consider a laptop stand in conjunction with external keyboard and mouse

Packing up laptops

Pupils with laptops often find themselves responsible for transporting them around.
For security (because it’s not obviously carrying a laptop) and to avoid an aching back or sore neck, we most frequently recommend a backpack rather than a shoulder strap carry case. Look for a backpack with

padded straps – the wider the better
multiple compartments – better for distributing weight
additional padding next to the back
a waist belt – removes stress from lower back

Not the only bag? Think about wheeled ‘suitcase style’ bags, which are both practical and safe.

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