DOH recommends physical activities and breaks during online classes

Following the Department of Education’s (DepEd) announcement that online classes can be extended to 7 to 8 hours a day, on Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said that children who will have to spend long hours on online classes should be given enough breaks and physical activities.

Photo credit: bilyonaryo.com.ph

The adjustments have to be made after the department decided to move the resumption of classes from the original schedule of August 24 to October 5. 

However, after parents and group of teachers slam the idea, DepEd clarified that their statement on the conduct of 8-hour online classes is just an idea that can be considered.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said,

Itong recommendation na ito ng Department of Education, pinag-aaralan natin ngayon.

[We are studying this recommendation of the Department of Education.]

Vergeire, who is also a doctor, said there are recommendations abroad about the exposure of young children to online learning. She said during a virtual briefing,

There should also be physical activity. Hindi pwedeng nakaupo sila sa harap ng computer for 8 hours...and kailangan varied yung activities na binibigay katulad ng storytelling.

[There should also be physical activities. They can’t be in front of the computer for 8 straight hours...and the activities should be varied like storytelling.]

She said that even for older children, there should be breaks. She said, 

Kailangan tumatayo tayo sila. May break time para hindi strained ang eyes, hindi strained ang back,

[They should stand up from time to time. And there are breaks so their eyes won’t get strained and their backs wouldn’t be strained.]

Vergeire said students should be able to exercise their body and not end up just sitting for several hours. 

Also, Child development specialist Sheila Marie "Shake" Hocson said it was not advisable for children to spend long hours in front of the monitor. Children aged 2 to 12, for instance, are only allowed an hour of screen time, she said.

Hocson is also the guidance director at Far Eastern University. She said that it is somewhat not advisable and that children should really have healthy breaks. Children also can't study for consecutive hours because they have a short attention span. Children may strain their eyes and will not be able to fully absorb lessons with the long hours.