Proper set-up and work habits are important both at school and at home in order to prevent computer-related injuries.

For a conventional workstation, place equipment and furniture in a way that promotes good posture and proper hand position:

The keyboard and mouse should be directly under the fingers when elbows are bent to about 90 degrees with upper arms relaxed. Wrists should stay straight when keying or mousing, and do not bend up, down or to the side.

Children should not need to bend their neck back to look at the screen. Align the top of the monitor screen with the child’s forehead so it is below eye level, directly in front. To minimize strain on the eyes sit about an arm’s length from the screen. The screen should be free from glare and adjust the brightness and text size for comfort. A 3 inch 3-ring binder can be used as a slant board to adjust the height and angle of the computer screen.

An adjustable keyboard tray and pneumatic chair can help assure comfort for all when used by many family members. If the workstation furniture is not adjustable, choose a chair that places the child at the proper height in relation to the equipment with a footrest to support the feet and a pillow to support the back.

Active breaks and frequent changes of position increase circulation and let the eyes relax. Children who use the computer for an hour or more should move around often and get up every half-hour. Regular eye examinations and recreational exercise help to counterbalance all the sitting.