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Posture Perfect
What Is Your Child's Posture
Telling You?
Telling You?
By Gina Roberts-Grey
The first place to begin promoting better posture is recognizing what your child needs to improve. Observe him sitting, standing and walking to fully understand what his current posture is and what you hope for it to become. Does he slouch more when he's eating or talking on the phone? Is he more prone to walking with rounded shoulders or with his head down? Is his posture better or worse when he is interacting with peers?
Talk to your child to explain the benefits and effects of good posture. "It is obvious that the few children who sit straight in their chairs realize they stand out," says Pietschman. Communicating the importance of projecting self confidence, as well as promoting a healthy spinal system, you can help your child understand how his posture affects his entire life. You'll also give him the confidence to retain good posture despite the examples set by his peers.
A child who is shy or introverted is more likely to have poor posture than one who is outgoing or overtly social. Encouraging your child to look straight at you promotes good alignment. This technique provides the secondary benefit of helping him develop his communication skills. If your child is forced to look you in the eye when he's talking to you, he'll have to hold his head and neck upright.
Backpacks and books bags also are known to be at the root of poor adolescent posture. Carrying a heavy bag on one side of his body can throw a child's alignment off balance. Wearing a bag that evenly distributes the weight eliminates the need for a child to jut out his shoulder or hip to compensate for the extra weight on one side of his body.
Personal Health and Fitness Trainer Marc Gryzbowski of Miami, Fla., helps clients of all ages work toward improving their posture. "Under the guidance of a trainer or physician, stretching and strengthening core muscles can lead to improved posture," Gryzbowski says. He recommends incorporating a safe workout routine that balances flexibility, strength training and weight control to retrain your body's tendencies toward poor posture. "Spending time in front of a three-way mirror is another excellent way to get a view of how your posture looks," he says.