Why Stand Up Desks are Good for the Classroom
With more and more schools cutting recess and physical education programs, sitting for seven-plus hours a day is becoming the norm for students across the nation. An increasing number of children diagnosed with ADHD each year are prescribed medicine to combat the restlessness and fidgeting that’s actually beneficial to their development. Armed with recent research, educators are beginning to push for stand up desks in the classroom. The Stand Up Desk Store presents findings about the harmful effects of prolonged sitting on student development as well as the health, behavioral, and educational benefits of using stand up desks in the classroom.
Sitting and ADHD
A recent Washington Post article explores the detrimental effects of requiring students to sit still during the school day. Angela Hanscom, a pediatric occupational therapist, suggests that the “reason many children are being diagnosed with ADHD, whether or not they really have it, [is] the amount of time children are forced to sit while they are in school.” Fidgeting fuels brain activity needed for processing complex thoughts and problems. Without movement, the brain “turns off,” and students are likely to fall asleep.
Behavior Problems
Behavioral referrals often lead to ADHD diagnoses. Children, especially those who are kinesthetic learners, become disruptive when they are bored or have trouble paying attention in class. A study conducted by Texas A&M University gave elementary school students stand up desks, and found that standing “improved attention, on-task behavior, alertness, and classroom engagement.” Teachers who worried that standing desks would disrupt learning actually saw a reduction in behavior problems.
Poor Core Strength
Hanscom’s studies also showed that lack of movement results in poor core strength and balance in most school-aged children—an effect that even several hours of afterschool sports cannot reverse. Children need hours of unrestricted movement to develop their balance system. At standing workstations, kids rely on their core strength for support, which improves coordination.
Childhood Obesity
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 17% of U.S. children aged 2 to 19 years are considered obese, meaning they are at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. Luckily, standing desks are a part of the solution to this problem. Research shows that children burn 114 more calories per day when standing at desks than when sitting. The findings are especially significant for overweight children: they burned 32% more calories by standing rather than sitting at a desk.
Improve the health and education of your students by rethinking the classroom environment. Stand Up Desk Store can help you select the best standing desks for your school. Shop now for an adjustable-height stand up desk. For more information, contact us today!
