Are Standing Desks Good for Kids? – Health Benefits of Standing for Children
Health experts are all in agreement over the fact that sitting is the new smoking? That may sound a little extreme, but when you consider the risks and complications of leading a sedentary lifestyle, it’s easy to understand why health officials are so concerned.
In the past, it was just office workers that were singled out for too much sitting because we spend so many hours per day sitting at a desk in front of a computer. New research, however, is pointing to the fact that children are also at risk of the dangers associated with too much sitting, which is why kids standing desk products are now proving so popular.
Standing desks have revolutionized how people work in the office. Now, thanks to products such as a standing desk for schoolwork, children can also benefit from the many health benefits associated with standing desks.
To help emphasize just how vital a standing children’s desk can be, here’s a look at several health benefits of using a standing desk for kids while at school.
Reduced risk of obesity:
Did you know that childhood obesity rates are at the highest they’ve ever been before? Roughly 17% of children and teens are affected by obesity, which is around 12.7 million people. With 1 in 3 children now overweight or obese, action must be taken now before it’s too late.
One of the main contributing factors to childhood obesity is that a lack of exercise and sitting plays a key role. Considering children spend so much time sitting at school, it was only a matter of time before kids standing desk products were brought in.
The SOLOS kids standing desk, for example, is fully adjustable, comes in a variety of colors, and offers a weight capacity of 110 pounds.
Standing desks have been proven to help burn off more calories than sitting, plus moderate exercise breaks are encouraged when using a standing desk, so more calories can again be burnt off.
Standing desks help children to focus
When you’re sat in a chair doing very little, your mind can wander, and you may find yourself daydreaming when you’re supposed to be working. If this happens to you as an adult, what do you think it’s like for a kid?
Children are not renowned for their attention spans and concentration skills, which can be a big problem when learning at school and in an educational environment. A lack of concentration and focus can affect a child’s grades and their learning in general, affecting their development.
Studies have found that using a standing desk for schoolwork can help noticeably improve a child’s overall focus and concentration levels to stop their minds from wandering when they’re supposed to be learning.
To add to that, obesity has also been linked with a lack of focus, concentration, and motivation. We’ve already looked at how using a standing children’s desk can help tackle that particular problem.
Standing desks in school will promote good posture
You may think that it is just adults who are susceptible to back and neck issues and poor posture, but children can also be affected in reality.
One of the most significant downsides to spending hours on end sitting slumped or hunched forwards over a desk, either at work, at school, or anywhere else, can lead to all manner of posture issues. Seating can be highly detrimental to your posture, from curvature and misalignment of the spine to neck ache and back pain.
Chiropractors are seeing more and more children affected by poor posture, and when you consider that children are still growing and developing, this quickly becomes a genuine problem.
One of the best things about using a standing desk for kids is that when you are standing up and working, your spine is aligned, as are your shoulders, you’ll stand up straight, and your posture will be better.
Remember, it isn’t just adults that can benefit from the posture improving benefits of standing desks.
Can improve a child’s mental health
In some parts of the world, conditions such as ADHD or ADD are up in children aged between 4 and 17. There are several contributing factors towards this, but could a sedentary lifestyle topped off with hours upon hours of sitting also be to blame? Well, yes, it would appear so.
A lack of exercise and mental stimulation can contribute to ADHD and ADD and other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
One of the best things about a standing desk for schoolwork is that it helps provide mental stimulation and boost concentration levels while also promoting exercise and physical activity.
Exercise and physical exertion can boost the production of endorphins and ‘happy chemicals’ that will help children feel happier and more content in life. This will not only improve how they learn at school, but it will also improve their overall quality of life too.
Standing desks are fun
If there’s one thing that kids love, it’s something different and out of the ordinary. If you’re teaching a classroom full of children that are used to sitting down at their desks while working, just wait until they see what a standing desk can do. Sure, to adults, the fact that it goes up and down isn’t that great, but they’ll be amazed to kids.
The more time kids spend learning about how a standing children’s desk works, the more time they will devote to learning and behaving, which can only be good.
