Tzu Chi Early Childhood (EC) welcomed doctor and team from Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital on Friday, August 23, 2019 for posture health screening. Rapid growth and increase of postural response in children happened mostly during the first four years of life. Hence, it is important for the screening to be done during the early childhood years.

‘We don’t necessarily realise but actually, if there’s anything not normal on our feet, minor or major, students won’t sit comfortably in class, and it can heavily affect the way they go on their daily activities,’ said Nurse Jusnita, who takes care of the Tzu Chi EC clinic.

Every student will go through a posture screening at least once during their time in Tzu Chi EC. Students who have gone through screening once, won’t have to do it again. Dr Agatha Narinda Mulyo of PIK Hospital who supervised the screening process explained further why this screening is important, ‘A child’s posture affect the way they sit and their focus in class. If we catch this early, we’ll be able to recommend them the right treatment such as prescribing them with the right insole height to help students’ daily activities or others.’ 

This was Dr Mulyo’s third screening in Tzu Chi EC, ‘From what we’ve learned in the previous year, we found many cases of children with different feet height, and we have at least 25 students whose parents come to see us for regular consultation.’ 

She also added that, for parents whose child is developing bad posture, parents and teachers are advised to give them the right exercise which could range from running, jumping, or others. It is also important for children to properly warm-up and cool-down before and after the exercise.

Lastly, Dr Mulyo said, ‘With the right approach, it will surely help their growth process, and let them to be more focused in class which will result in a better academic performance.

There were 117 students from N2, K1, and K2 who participated in the screening. The screening was done by asking children to stamp their feet on a piece of paper, that then will be analysed by the hospital. Tzu Chi EC is planning to hold another posture health screening in September for those who didn’t attend and for students in N1.