Every parent wants their child to grow up healthy and happy, and at Chislehurst Chiropractic, we believe in supporting these goals. From eye care, to dental care, to overall body wellness. We also want to support parents and ensure that their children are growing up with healthy habits.
Unfortunately, one aspect that often gets overlooked in child wellness is spinal care. The spine can take quite a beating throughout growth, so it’s important to watch out for their backs. It will help prevent a lot of problems for your child’s future.
Here are a few tips on how to nurture a healthy, growing spine:
Proper Bag Use
Children in school can put a lot of stress on their spine from improper bag use. Your child should be carrying no more that 15% of their own body weight, packing heavy items close to their back and using a two-strap bag instead of one. You can read more about proper bag use in our previous article here.
Postural Habits
Children often develop bad postural habits as they grow. Being in school, hunched over a desk, or sitting down for long periods at a time can shape an abnormal spine curvature. This may lead to back pain and interfere with musculoskeletal development. If you notice your child’s back is starting to hunch, bring it to their attention and develop a plan to curve this bad habit back into shape. Let your Chiropractor know about postural patterns you notice and they’ll be able to help.
Regular Exercise
Being active is incredibly important for spine and overall health. Regular exercise promotes oxygen flow throughout the body, keeps young minds energized and stimulates growth. Children 5-18 years old should be getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This is also increasingly important since many are stuck in front of computers and iPhones now.
Phone and Screen Breaks
Children and teens are becoming handier and more attached to mobile devices and computer screens. Phone and computer use leads to excessive sedentary and bad postural habits. Remind your child to pull away from their screen or limit their usage and time on electronic devices.
A Healthy and Balanced Diet
The old saying, “you are what you eat” still stands true. Your child’s diet should be a good balance of vitamins and nutrients. Aim for dark green vegetables, healthy fats and hydration. More specifically, you want your child to be getting plenty for vitamin D3 and calcium for a strong and healthy spine.
Following these tips will help nurture your child’s growing spine. However, we also recommend that you bring them in for regular checkups to screen for any other conditions.
