Posture

Good sitting position

It is important for children to be stable and comfortable while seated at a desk or table to enable them to sufficiently maintain focus and attention, while also supporting them to use their hands effectively.

Check the child’s body position. They should have:

a straight back with their bottom and lower back touching the back of the chair
feet flat on the floor or supported on a box
hips, knees and ankles at right angles (see picture) 90° at ankle, knees and hips
sit symmetrically with head in a central position
chair pulled in within comfortable reach of the table
ensure shoulders and arms are rested in a comfortable position on tabletop
clearance between the back of the knee and the seat edge, approx 2 finger width.
clearance between the top of the thigh and the table.
the table height should be equal to or up to 2’’ above the height of the elbow, when the arms are resting by the sides of the body.

Are they leaning/flexed over table or have difficulty shifting their view from the board to their desk. Consider trying a writing slope, it can be useful for some children to ensure good sitting position, helping stabilize their wrist in handwriting tasks and offers a better viewing position to look from desk to board.

2 example photos of good postures when sitting at a desk.

Are their feet consistently wrapped around legs of the chair? Are they slumping and leaning head on hand? This often indicates a sign of poor core strength and stability. When children have not fully developed core stability and strength within their trunk, sitting in a chair for long periods of time can often take a lot of their concentration and energy.

Are they constantly fidgeting in their seat or swinging their legs? Children who find it difficult to sit still require movement in order to learn and maintain alert. Likewise, children may often move around in chair to feel me more stable this can also often indicate poor core strength and stability. Consider movement breaks throughout the day.

Consider some core strengthening exercises: See our information resources on Gross Motor, Shoulder and Core Strengthening.