What is ergonomics?

The term "ergonomics" comes from the Greek words ergon (meaning “work”) and nomos (meaning “rule”) and is defined as the science of human work. Its primary concern is to adapt the working conditions to the individual, and not the opposite.

 

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The interaction between the human body and its surroundings and furniture is of key importance. It is important to pay attention to ergonomic sitting when seated at a desk. This is the physiologically optimum position, one that is relaxed and therefore aids concentration while preventing postural damage, backache and headache. Desks, chairs and office furniture should therefore be ergonomic.

In modern times, children spend increasingly more time at their desks, just like adults working in offices. Adjustments to our lifestyle imposed by the COVID19 pandemic means home-based learning and work-from-home arrangements are here to stay.  Healthy sitting is equally or more important for children than for adults working in the office. 

An ergonomic desk and swivel chair help to meet the challenging demands of today's school life for children and avoid unnecessary health complications. The longer your child sits at her desk, the more important it is to pay attention to the desk. An incorrect sitting posture often results in back pain, muscle tension, and headaches. Dynamic sitting can minimize these health issues. The best sitting position is the next one. Constantly changing posture when sitting at the children's desk is the key to avoid a permanently incorrect posture. In addition, a well-designed children desks, with height adjustable and tiltable desktop features, support dynamic sitting.

The Basics of Ergonomic Sitting

There is no such thing as “right” or “wrong” sitting.

 

 

The only thing that matters is changing position regularly as long as the child doesn’t slouch. So do not correct your child if he adopts a “riding position” on her chair. Although educators and parents used to frown upon fidgeting, it is no longer seen as an expression of poor concentration or a symptom of hyperactivity. Indeed, healthy fidgeting while sitting is a natural, mostly unconscious form of behaviour that encourages the child’s physical, mental and psychological development. By contrast, long periods of sitting still are harmful.

Imagine yourself in the office at work: you would feel very uncomfortable if you assume the same position for an extended period of time. Of course, children should not be moving excessively on their chair. The main argument here is that a dynamic position exercise the muscles, aids blood circulation, and reduces weight stress on the lower back. The best sitting posture is the next position.

Chairs specially developed by moll for children encourage this kind of seating behaviour while making sure the chair does not tip back. Seats and backrests adapt perfectly to the child’s natural physical requirements.

Chair and desk must fit like a glove!

 

 

In order to achieve a healthy sitting posture, it must be possible to adjust the workstation, both the chair and the table, to the child’s height and proportions. Adjusting the furniture starts with the chair. The second step is to adjust the height of the desk.

Adjust the seat height of chair such that the front edge of the seat is roughly level with the back of the knees. The seat height is right when the angle between the thigh and the trunk is approximately 100 degrees and the feet are flat on the floor.

Tilting the seat slightly to the front encourages the child to sit upright and be focused while working at the table. The pelvis is tilted slightly forward and the back is straight. A flexible seat also encourages dynamic sitting.

The seat depth is adjusted so that the thighs rest completely against the front edge of the seat without pressure. The gap between the front edge of the chair and the calf should be about the width of four fingers. This ensures unhindered blood circulation in the legs.

The height of the backrest is set so that the trunk is supported all the way up to just below the shoulder blades. This relieves pressure when leaning back.

To adjust the height of the desk, place the arms on the desktop. Adjust the height of the desk until the child’s elbows are at an angle of slightly more than 90 degrees (see illustration).

The lower arms should rest on the desktop when working. This ensures that the neck and shoulder muscles remain relaxed.

To summarize, a dynamic posture is encouraged as long as the child doesn’t slouch and sits upright as much as possible. This is made easy with a desk and chair that can be adjusted to the child’s height. More important of all, children should take short breaks while studying, some leisure activities to chill, and not remain seated at their desks all the time.

Ergonomic Furniture Grow with your Child

 

In order to safeguard children’s health and ensure they learn well, rather than have them adapt to their furniture, their furniture should adapt to them.

As children grow, all moll desks and chairs can be adjusted to their current height and proportions, which makes them ergonomic at all times. Being able to adjust the position of the backrest and the seat depth is as important as adjusting the height of the desk and chair.

Setting the furniture in the right position is straight forward and can be done under a minute with the simple adjustment mechanism on all moll desks and chairs.

Why tilt the desktop?

 

Whether reading, writing, or drawing, there is an optimal correct sitting position for every activity that is easily achieved by tilting the desktop.

All desktops of moll desks can be tilted at different angles to ensure the child sits in a relaxed, back-friendly, and comfortable position for different tasks.

moll worked with orthopedists and ophthalmologists in Germany to develop children’s desks with tops that can be inclined by up to 30 degrees. When tilted up, the desktop is closer towards the child and therefore prevents her from leaning forward, encouraging her to study in an upright position instead of slouching.

The patented system facilitates continuous adjustment that can be easily and safely operated by children. The mechanism is designed to allow the desktops to be tilted and lowered safely. This construction design eliminates the risk of trapped fingers and associated injuries.

moll children desks have an anti-slip feature to prevent objects from sliding off the desk when the desktop is tilted.

RECOMMENDED ANGLE FOR THE OPTIMUM POSITION:

0-7°   for drawing, painting and similar activities

8-12° for writing

20-30° for reading