Home schooling impacting health of children: Experts

Pune: With home schooling continuing for more than six months now, health experts have started raising concerns on children’s health.

Experts are underlining health issues that can come up like irritation of eyes with long hours on the digital screen or unhealthy bone development because of lack of outdoor sports and others.

Experts mentioned that the foundation for strong bones is built during childhood. The almost entire process of bone development and bone density happens in our childhood and during our teenage.

Hence, parents should encourage children to eat bone-healthy food. It is also important for children to play outdoor games to develop bone strength for life.

Dr. Sandeep Patwardhan, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon from Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation, said, “A child should get plenty of exposure to sunlight. Sunlight exposure is important because it helps the generation of Vitamin D through the skin. Research suggests that midday exposure to sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D. Because of this, children should play for at least 45 minutes in sunlight.”

“Only exposure to sunlight is not enough, children should play also. It is an outdoor game that gives a lot of flexibility and strength to the body at a young age. If a child is inactive, the bones get weak. Hence, to play computer games by sitting at home and not visiting the playground is not a good idea for good bones. Running, jumping or any outdoor sports gives a lot of strength for bones,” he added.

As the lockdown was an unexpected announcement, kids started home-schooling in a less-than-ideal set-up consisting of beds, coffee tables, clutches, and dining tables. With no end soon to this home-schooling situation, if one does not get the proper school set up at home, it may prove to wreak more havoc on children with pre-existing neck and back pain problems.

Saurabh Sane, Physiotherapist from HealYos, a home-physiotherapy start-up from Pune, said, “When the prolonged lockdown was not expected, many did not have the correct chair or table for work at their home as they used to have in their offices. This has led to impacting their body posture and thereby leading to a rise in neck and back pain related problems. Hence, one should have a correct sitting posture while taking up home-schooling. To make your sitting comfortable you can add a hard pillow on the chair to support your back. One should get a chair and a table. The arrangement should be made in such a manner that the computer screen should come to the eye level.”

Experts also mentioned that children should wash their eyes frequently. Also, if there is any irritation of the eyes, parents should consult doctors. Parents must offer healthy food to kids. Eating junk food continuously can add to obesity-related issues. (UNI)