Home Request Your Free Newsletter Ways to Help Computers Shouldn’t Be Child’s Play Heart of the Matter Is It Time to Talk? Stay Connected With Your Kids Turning to Table Food Get Moving as a Family Where Do You Turn in an Emergency? Sports Injuries In Kids Welcome! The Parent Calendar What Experts Say About Pediatric Research

Computers Shouldn’t Be Child’s Play Young eyes, muscles and lifestyles can suffer Do you worry about your children’s fascination with computers? Join the club: A recent study found seven in 10 parents had such concerns. Computer abuse is like a three-headed dragon, attacking healthy vision, bodies and lifestyle. “Too much time on a computer can detract from time needed to develop other motor, social or intellectual skills,” says Michael Sia, M.D., pediatrician and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. Eyes on the blink “The most common problems are eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes, and headaches,” says Dr. Sia. “Children are more vulnerable to eyestrain because they glue themselves to the computer without breaks. They often ignore blurred vision or accept it as normal. Be sure your kids’ vision is checked annually.” All in the wrist Children can suffer repetitive stress injury (RSI) from improper, excessive use of a computer mouse and keyboard. Dr. Sia advises parents to teach RSI’s warning signs, which include tingling, heaviness or soreness in the neck, shoulders, arms or hands. Watch for clues, he adds, such as “massaging a body part excessively, dropping things repeatedly, avoiding sports they used to enjoy or using their nondominant hand to do routine tasks.” Michael Sia, M.D. Bodies at rest “Children are more sedentary than ever, and computers are one of the fastest-growing reasons for this alarming trend,” says Dr. Sia. A recent study found that one-fourth of children watched four hours or more of TV a day. In highincome homes, computers replaced TV about half the time. “If a school-age child goes a whole day without participating at least once in some form of physical activity, that’s a sure sign things need changing right away,” he says. SCREEN SAVERS Make kids take a 10-minute computer break each hour. Impose strict limits on computer time. Make them go outside and play! Kids should view the screen at a 15-degree downward angle, 4–9 inches below eye level and 20–26 inches from the eyes. Eliminate glare. Light sources should not be visible when sitting in front of a monitor. An adjustable chair and keyboard/mouse tray help families share a computer. Mark adjustable equipment with names and settings. Teach good computer posture, typing and mouse techniques. Tell children to blink. Our eyes dry out because we blink less while staring at the screen. Don’t let kids eat at the computer. Luis Rosa, Information Security Manager >> HEAR FROM THE EXPERT: Child Internet Safety: Guidelines and Resources for Parents and Teachers Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Tuesday, Aug. 17, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Click here for more information.