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Working at child height - low chairs and backs
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Posted By Eric Beach I have been asked to advise our Speech and Language Therapists over the issue of sitting on child-height chairs when working with younger children. They need to be able to make good eye contact with a child working at a low table and the easiest way to do this is to sit on one of the low child-sized chairs. However, they have been told that they shouldn't do this as it is bad for their backs. What I'm looking for is a solution to this dilemma. Is the issue not so much the height of the chair but the depth of the seat? Would they be better off with a low three-legged stool? Or should they sit on the floor? Or is the issue more likely to be the fact that once they are sat on the chairs they are then leaning forward over the workstation? Anyone come across this problem before and have some good advice, please?
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Posted By David Bannister What do the users think? Is there any experience of bad backs? How long and frequently are they in this position for?
Ergonomically it makes sense to provide a "proper" chair and raise the children higher. However, this may be neither practicable nor reasonable.
Given the need to be at child level and retain a workable relationship with the clients I suspect that this may properly be the realm of a specialist ergonomist. If the previous experience is good and the advice is scare-mongering then don't meddle.
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Posted By Chris G I wonder how infant schools address this issue. I found parents evening painful so how do the staff cope day in day out?
Chris G
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Posted By Robert K Lewis Perhaps sitting on the floor would be a solution. After all human beings originally adopted this as the normal seated posture!
Bob
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Posted By Jerry Sanderson This is a real issue in Primary schools and as well as potential ergonomic problems there is the issue of childrens chairs collapsing when used by adults. This depends on the size and rating of the chair and its age and condition. We have sent out information to our schools to not use Infant rated chairs for adults either for staff or for parents during parents evenings and school performances. There are alternatives for staff such as adjustable height stools or indeed adult rated and sized lower height chairs.
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Posted By Eric Beach Dear All
Thank you for your comments - two things emerge in my thinking as a result of this;
=> the need to do my own risk assessment based on the experience and knowledge of the staff and their work and
=> the need to look into lower height seating that the staff can use with comfort.
I shall watch with interest to see if there are further comments.
Eric
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Posted By Salus Hi Eric can you not wait for the kids to grow up before talking to them, that way the common sensible adults will not have to sit down
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Posted By Maggie Atterbury In our Schools we advise the purchase of adult sized seats on short legs for staff working with small children. Not only is it better for the staff - a big enough seat and correct back support, but it is better educationally for the children (less intimidating). These seats are available from our local purchasing consortium if you ask.
Another solution used by our local hospital physiotherapists is to have low stools on wheels which allow the user to sit in the correct position at a suitable height and scoot around as necessary
Maggie Atterbury Education Health and Safety Team Leader Bath & North East Somerset Council
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Posted By Ron Impey I agree with the earlier advice about raising the child up so that adults can use a chair and table that are ergonomically suitable for themselves. There are many companies which can supply child chairs to achieve that, for example: http://www.thebackshop.c...ducts236-details105.html
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Posted By Kieran J Duignan Eric
One of the misconceptions about 'ergonomics' that it is important to address is that it is not limited to compatibility based on anthropometric data (i.e. measurements of the user's limbs and other body parts in relation to furniture and other equipment).
It also includes educating people to take personal responsibility for their physical health and fitness. In this instance, it include postural education and training in exercises designed to prevent and relieve postural stress.
Study holistic ergonomic programmes for dental surgeons and hygienists as exemplars instead of concentrating solely on furniture.
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Posted By Tabs Ever been to a traditional Japanese restaurant?
Many Japanese families still use low furniture and do not suffer postural difficulties.
They do not, however use seats made for children. So I agree with the other posts, simply match the furniture to the person and the use.
A therapist on a child's chair must look like a giant - not comfortable for a kiddie.
I use a Thai Toblerone (can't think of a better name... padded cushion attached to triangular back rest, no legs) very comfortable for us less nimble types.
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Posted By Eric Beach Thanks
My thoughts had turned to Japanese style furniture - or failing that, chairs with the legs sawn down! Maybe we will just have to try out a series of solutions, see if we can get them to sit up straight and improve their posture in a variety of settings, and see what feels comfortable / reduces back ache.
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