How To Stop Gameboy Back Posture

Sit up straight


bad-posture-in-children
Gameboy back is a condition caused by kids hunched over while playing video games or reading articles on smartphones and tablets for hours.  This is changing their spines at an early age.  They used to see this in children when child labor was common earlier in the last century.

I can attest to this condition because I just finished physical therapy for pain in my neck, upper and lower back.  I wrote about this earlier about not being a vulture.  When I started blogging, I didn't pay attention to how I was sitting, but now I do.  This position can make your back and neck weak and your shoulders tight.

So what should a parent do?  
  • Make sure your child is in a supported position in a firm chair with their arms placed on the arm rests and sitting up straight.
  • Take breaks from gaming or tablet use, get up and move around
  • If they can't move around do shoulder circles backwards slowly

Check out my article on "Don't be a Vulture" for exercises to do for this problem.

Does your child suffer from gameboy posture or do you have a problem with sitting up straight while on your smartphone or computer?



Comments

  1. I try to practice good posture, but it gets challenging at times! Love the exercises; will definitely be trying them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am a mean mommy and place a 1/2 limits on electronics for my kids everyday :) I have an alarm clock and everything. Standing up straight can be hard, my husband is horrible about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All parents should be like you Ann. Our children do not get enough movement activities and spending hours on electronic devices is not good their hearts, lungs and backs.

      Delete
  3. Seriously... I feel like you wrote this post for me. Not only am I guilty of playing a video game or two, but I'm constantly hunched over at my desk at work. I even bought a balance ball to help with my posture, but I mostly just bounce on it for fun (ignore the whole keeping your back straight thing). Thanks for this article! Great information :)

    xo,
    Steph
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.stephanieziajka.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie sitting up straight is hard for adults and I can only imagine how it would be for children. Someone needs to invent a sit-up timer.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the nice post. My kids are too small for Gameboy but this information will help myself prepare in the future if they both need this kind of toy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So useful, thanks!! I'm guilty myself, but also have a daughter to frighten, I mean speak to, with this post.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was having some really bad problems with my neck and shoulders from sitting at the computer and not sitting straight. I started doing yoga with the Wii and I can tell it is working really well by taking away the pain I was having.

    ReplyDelete
  7. *I* have this problem. Haha. And not just in front of the computer. Gotta work on my vulture posture!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment