All of us want to buy the best that we can for our children. We want them to have things that work, that they like and at the same time are good for them or help them in their development. As parents of infants and toddlers, we want items that make life easier and enjoyable for everyone in the family. Today’s ‘down-shifting’ trend in which we are encouraged to consume less also has some of us looking more discerningly at what types of things we fill our children’s spaces with. I asked one of the world’s top-ranking design firms, Ergonomidesign of Sweden, about their experience of designing and their thoughts about purchasing the things that do all of the above for children and parents.
Ergonomics, like ecology and environment sounds like one of those good-living e-words that is a good idea but a frill in the usual business of life. Today these ideas, including ergonomics, which according to the International Ergonomics Association is “the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use,” are being taken much more seriously. Consuming less, living healthier and respecting the earth are common principles for any upright citizen.
Machines & You
Once the sole concern of efficiency-seeking work-places, ergonomics has now entered our everyday lives and our homes. So what is it really all about? Essentially, ergonomics is about how you and your children interact with the ‘machines’ around you, whether that is a chair, a fork or a computer. Physical ergonomics asks questions such as: Is it good for your posture? Does it have you performing tasks repeatedly and unnecessarily? Cognitive ergonomics poses questions about how the machine works with your mental processes: is it easy or frustrating to use? Emotional ergonomics asks whether a product is appealing and desirable.
Entering Ergonomics World
Enter Ergonomidesign’s offices in Stockholm and you become immediately aware that you have just entered a place where these questions have been asked about everything including the front door which slides open when you announce yourself to a speaker which you do not need to kiss in order to be heard. I walk past a fascinating product display which includes a series of syringes that look like thick ball-point pens with colorful shafts that can be stored in containers that look like a spectacle case (see header image above). These have been designed for teenagers who need to inject themselves daily. Emotional ergonomics is written large all over this product which removes the stigma from this unpleasant daily task.
A brochure about The Bosieboo Bath Thermometer which infants and toddlers can easily grasp and safely put into their mouths in a moment where mother or father has turned around to pick up the shampoo, is a clear masterpiece of cognitive therapy and the winner of one of Ergonomidesign’s several red dot awards (issued by The German Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, which is one of Europe's oldest and most renowned design institutions).
Should it be Bent or Straight?
A discussion with Håkan Bergqvist, the designer of many objects for children that parents all around the world easily recognize including the red dot award winning Baby Björn Travel Cot Light, provides an insight into what an ergonomic object is and is not. In order to create eating utensils and plates that would work for children up to the age of four, Håkan filmed young children eating with some of the popular bent utensils out on the market at the time. These films showed that what looked visually appealing to parents did not at all work for the children who had great difficulty eating with these utensils. Håkan’s final design drew on Ergonomidesign’s experience of working with handicapped adults who, similar to very young children, did not have full control of their grip and motor skills.
Erging Computers When asked what ergonomic objects they would furnish a ten-year-old’s room with, Ergonomidesign staff were, on the other hand, sparing. Their bodies are limber and they are physically so much more capable than adults. There was only one area that they identified as an ergonomic-needy zone of an older child’s life and that was the computer corner. Aside from limiting childrens’ time in front of computers, they saw computers and programs requiring a high degree of physical activity to be the next step in ergonomics for older children. Nintendo has begun this trend but there is much more to be done.
Ergonomic Toys On the issue of what makes a good toy, Ergonomidesign had some insightful advice for parents who want to purchase a nice surprise that won’t be tossed into a dusty corner of the house within five minutes. If you are visiting the toy store and feeling a little lost remember the following three points:
Simplicity: Will the child understand how to use this without having to wait for busy parents to come to the rescue?
Creative Results: Does the toy result in the creation of something new?
Open-ended Outcomes: Does the toy lead to outcomes that are neither right or wrong?
If you can answer “yes” to all of these, you are well on your way to making a good ergonomic choice.
Thermometer which infants and toddlers can easily grasp and safely put into their mouths in a moment where mother or father has turned around to pick up the shampoo, is a clear masterpiece of cognitive therapy and the winner of one of Ergonomidesign’s several red dot awards (issued by The German Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, which is one of Europe's oldest and most renowned design institutions).
Travel Cot Light, provides an insight into what an ergonomic object is and is not. In order to create eating utensils and plates that would work for children up to the age of four, Håkan filmed young children eating with some of the popular bent utensils out on the market at the time. These films showed that what looked visually appealing to parents did not at all work for the children who had great difficulty eating with these utensils. Håkan’s final design drew on Ergonomidesign’s experience of working with handicapped adults who, similar to very young children, did not have full control of their grip and motor skills. 
