Ask HN: Teaching your kids about ergonomics

Hi HN,

A health topic that comes up regularly with regards to kids and electronic device use (phones, tablets, computers), is screentime (ie, amount of hours spent in front of the screen).

However, something that is rarely mentioned (and that I've had much personal experience with), is the ergonomics around device usage.

This includes environment, posture, light quality, etc.

How do you handle your kids sitting hunched over devices, in poor light, with faces too close, etc?

How do you encourage them to use them better, and not incur 'body debt' to eyes, necks, backs, etc?

Also, what do you teach them?

It seems to me phones and especially tablets were designed to encourage this type of usage.

I've had most luck with laptops (since they are more likely to be plugged into a socket), where I've shown them to sit at a table under a good light, laptop at arm's length, with a proper mouse. Tablets, however, they will use at length at whatever spot and position they find themselves in.

Any pointers appreciated!