All parents dream of making their children happy, healthy and successful. But can a child who spends a lot of time at the computer be healthy? On the other hand, can in our time a teenager, whom his parents completely isolated from the PC, become a specialist in any professional field?
The advent of personal computers has given rise to a huge number of myths regarding both the benefits and harms of their use.
The main factors of the harmful influence of a computer on the human body are:
strain on vision, cramped posture, radiation, impact on the psyche.
Considering these factors, what can you do and how can you help create the safest environment for your child when interacting with a computer?
Vision
• it is necessary to properly organize the lighting of the computer desk, monitor the serviceability of the monitor and the cleanliness of the screen, since dirt causes additional distortion;
• an individually selected table and chair will allow the child to maintain the optimal distance from the screen to the eyes (50-60cm), position the computer desk so that sunlight does not fall on the monitor, since glare on the screen contributes to eye fatigue;
• it is necessary for the child to take breaks every 15-20 minutes to give his eyes a rest.Landing
To avoid a cramped posture, you must:
• work at a special computer desk with a retractable board for the keyboard, allowing the child to change position;
• sit on a special swivel chair without armrests (besides the fact that it is comfortable and the height of the chair can be changed taking into account the child’s growth, children really like to spin and ride on chairs, and this involuntarily gives them breaks in contact with the screen);
• regularly interrupt “communication” with the computer, get up, stretch, do mini-exercises.
Radiation
In itself, the potential available on the cathode ray tube of a kinescope is not terrible, but the electrostatic fields that arise between the display screen and the face of a person sitting in front of the computer accelerate the dust particles that have settled on the screen to enormous speeds, and they “bite” into the user’s skin. Here are some tips for parents:
• install the monitor with its back wall against the wall;
• in the room where the computer is located, do wet cleaning and wipe off dust more often;
• teach your child to wash his face with cold water every time he finishes working on the computer.
Psyche
Working on a computer requires no less concentration than driving a car. Games require enormous stress, the negative picture is complemented by the appearance of psychological dependence, which is expressed in the following pathological symptoms: the child develops a feeling of imaginary superiority over others, loses the ability to switch to other entertainment, and reveals poverty in the emotional sphere.
To reduce the stress on a child’s psyche:
• choose calmer games for him, try to buy educational games that broaden his horizons for the child;
• introduce your child to the capabilities of a computer, teach them to use text editors, draw, and make graphs, then the time spent at the computer will be more beneficial.
• try to protect the psyche of a small child from the effects of violent scenes in games for as long as possible.
