How to get your child ready for school
When purchasing school supplies, you must adhere to certain rules.
Otherwise, you may harm the child’s health.
Yulia Klimchenko, a valeologist instructor at the Minsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, told us how to get your child ready for school.
What to Consider When Buying Back-to-School Supplies
Firstly, it is necessary to organize the student’s workplace in a certain way.
A properly organized student's workplace is an important factor in preventing vision and posture disorders.
To determine the size of the tabletop, you need to make sure that the child can comfortably place his hands on it in a sitting position. At the same time, there should be free space for school supplies and textbooks.
The height of the desk depends on the child's height. In a sitting position, the tabletop should be at the level of the solar plexus.
If the child’s height is 110-115 centimeters, the height of the table top should be 46 cm, 115-130 cm - 52 cm, 130-145 cm - 58 cm, 145-160 cm - 64 cm.
You can purchase a transformable table, the angle of inclination and height of which can be adjusted.
The height of the chair (armchair) should also correspond to the child's height. For a height of 110-115 cm, the seat height should be 26 cm, 115-130 cm - 30 cm, 130-145 cm - 34 cm, 145-160 cm - 38 cm. That is, for every additional 15 cm of the student's height, 4 cm of the seat height should be added.
If the student's feet do not reach the floor, an additional foot platform must be purchased.
The depth of the seat of the chair (armchair) should be such that the thigh rests completely on the chair. When sitting correctly, the knees should be bent at a right angle, the feet should be completely on the floor.
The distance from the eyes to the book should be at least 30 cm, and between the tabletop and the chest – about 10 cm.
It is recommended to locate the workplace near the window. The light from the desk lamp should fall from the left (for left-handed people – from the right) so that there is no shadow from the working hand. Direct light should not be allowed to affect the eyes; the student should perceive the lighting reflected from the working surface.
When buying a school uniform, you need to make sure that it is comfortable for your child both when walking and when sitting.
The fabric should be breathable and hygroscopic. Choose clothes made of natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool) or mixed fabrics with a synthetic content of no more than 55% in suits and no more than 30% in blouses and shirts.
Shoes are preferably made of genuine leather. Lining made of artificial/synthetic materials is not allowed in closed shoes.
The heel height depends on age and should be no more than 1 cm for children aged 6 years and no more than 2.5 cm for children aged 7-12 years.
The weight of a backpack (briefcase, satchel) should be no more than 700 grams for primary (1-4) grade students and no more than a kilogram for middle and senior (5-11) grade students.
The front and side surfaces and the top flap of the backpack (briefcase, knapsack) must have reflective elements.
The length of the shoulder straps is adjusted according to the height of the student and clothing. At the bottom, the width of the straps should be at least 2-2.5 cm, at the top - at least 3.5-4 cm. Narrow straps will cut into the body and cause discomfort to the child.
A primary school student's backpack should have a shape-stable back and the following dimensions: front wall height - 22-26 cm, back wall - 30-36 cm, product width - 6-10 cm (an increase in dimensions of up to 3 cm is allowed).
Stationery should not have a strong smell. Glossy paper should not be used for making diaries and notebooks.
