When children are homeschooled, either by choice or because of the way the world is right now, there are a number of good reasons for this. Homeschooling is the correct option for some, and even those who would much rather be at their regular school can make the most of it temporarily.

But that doesn’t mean that homeschooling is always entirely perfect; the fact is, there could be some health problems because of homeschooling that need to be addressed. The good news is that parents can stop these health problems before they start and even use them to teach lessons with the right classroom themes. Continue reading to learn more.

Eye Strain

While working on schoolwork and staring at a computer screen all day may be efficient, it is bad for your eyes and may lead to eye strain. When your eyes tire from staring at a screen (or a book, or anything else) for an extended period of time, you get eye strain. While the soreness and dryness are a nuisance, it is not life-threatening, and eye medications may alleviate the problem.

What’s more dangerous is the possibility of vision loss, which can also be attributed to prolonged usage of screens. Children who often suffer from head and eye pain should be sent to an optometrist as soon as possible to rule out any more serious eye issues they may be experiencing.

In order to avoid any of these problems, it is important to ensure that your youngster takes frequent breaks, preferably outdoors and away from the computer screen. This allows the eyes to rest and heal before returning to work.

Overeating 

At home, it’s easy to eat too much. There are always snacks available, and meals are usually bigger than at school. Also, since you know how hard your child is working, you might want to give them a treat once in a while. All these things can cause a child to eat too much, which can make the child gain weight. Being overweight can hurt their health in a number of ways, and we all know that it’s hard to lose the weight once it’s been gained.

Try to eat three healthy meals a day and limit the number of snacks you eat. If the kids are hungry between meals, give them fruit and veggies instead of candy or cookies. Always keep a fruit bowl and healthy snacks where it’s easy to get to so your kids will make better choices.

Don’t forget, your kids are always watching you so make sure YOU are leading by example when it comes to choosing fruits and veggies over chips and candy.

Lack Of Exercise 

Kids need to move around a lot. They need it for their health and to get rid of some of their energy so they can pay attention in class. Usually this isn’t an issue for kids that are homeschooled, but if their parents also work from home and have a lot to do, sometimes physical activity can go on the back burner. If your kids don’t get enough exercise, they will be rambunctious, have trouble concentrating, and can gain weight.

Make sure your child gets at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, preferably outside! This could mean taking a quick walk around the block during lunch, riding bikes, going for a hike nearby, or going to the park after school. If you can’t go anywhere or the weather is bad, try working out together following an online video or walk around a shopping mall. It will be good for both of you.

Another idea is to check out 1000 Hours Outside for more ideas on how to do your learning OUTSIDE and then you can get learning and exercise done at the same time!