The numbers are astounding. According to a eMarketer report released in 2005, 39% of children younger 11 years old and younger are online regularly. 73% of teens aged 12 to 17 are online consistently. 31% of all kids have a computer in their room. Back in 2002, comScore Media Metrix found that the 12 to 17 year olds spend almost half an hour instant messaging each other. This same survey reported this age group played online games almost 30 minutes a day, and were on other web sites for about three quarters of an hour. This all translates into a lot of time on the keyboard and in front of the monitor.



There's trouble brewing with all this computer use. The problems surrounding this issue include:

· children using equipment designed for adults

· children using adult-sized computer furniture.

· children don't know ergonomic computing techniques

· children are spending too much time on the computer

Kids as young as eight years old are complaining of headaches, neck aches, and back aches. If you look at any child using a computer, you can see immediately why this might be. Young children have to tilt their heads back to see a monitor that is towering above them. The rule of thumb is that the user should have to look down somewhat to see the focal point on the screen. The worst health statistics regarding children using computers are related to laptops. Because laptops aren't adjustable in any way, they put the most stress on young users.

Child sized computer equipment is available nowadays. Keyboards are designed with little hands in mind. And the keys are color coded to help new readers pick out the correct letters. Keyboards for kids come with software that assists with reading and typing skills. And it's not just keyboards that need to fit kids. Child sized mice fit small hands. To make the mouse even easier to use, they come with colored dots on the buttons to help youngsters who might be a little weak on telling left from right. (There are probably some adults who could benefit from that, too!)

Many adults aren't familiar with proper computer use techniques, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that children aren't being taught how to compute ergonomically. Parents should become knowledgeable about what constitutes proper posture and typing technique. They should set an example for children by taking frequent breaks, stretching, and using appropriate assistive ergonomic devices. Parents should also be aware of how long their children are on the computer. It's easy for anyone to get caught up and lose track of time. A kitchen timer set for twenty minutes is a great way to enforce limits.

Any time a child uses a computer, adjustments must be made to accommodate his size. And this doesn't mean putting phone books on the chair. Children who use a computer frequently should have a child sized work station and equipment, or use the various adaptive devices to make computing comfortable. This is the time to protect the first wired generation from repetitive stress injuries. Five years from now is too late.