Kids and Computer Addiction
The issue of addiction to computers in children was not something parents needed to really face when I was a child. Most households did not have a computer when I was a kid. And, if they did they did not have an internet connection. We got a little Apple 2c when I was in junior high. My dad did use a modem to connect to local bulletin boards about some of his hobbies, but that was it. I used the computer to type up papers and play silly little games like Lemonade Stand and Westward Ho! (the exclamation point is actually part of the game title).
Oh, how times have changed. Just take a look at this news item put out by the Associated Press:
PALM BAY, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Palm Bay teen chased his mother with a knife and beat his brother with a sugar cane because of a change to his computer privileges.
The 15-year-old boy was on the home computer Sunday when he discovered changes to the system made by his older brother. Police say the teen then threw several objects and picked up a knife and a stick of sugar cane.
The older brother and mother told police the teen pushed his mother several times while clutching the knife.
The teen was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and battery.
Information from: Florida Today, http://www.floridatoday.com
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Wow. Just wow.
A child finds out his computer use has been limited and he is upset enough to go after his mother with a knife? I can see throwing a tantrum, or sulking. A knife, though? He went at his mother is a deadly weapon. Insane.
As a mother, I am 100% in favor of limiting both the time and the content of a child’s computer use. I allow my daughter an hour on the computer a couple times a week. She is limited to websites I have chosen (WebKinz, Starfill.com, ect.) and right now she accepts that. Of course, she is five. I know we will have to go at things a little different in the future. However, she will not have a computer in her room, she will not have unlimited internet privileges, and I will monitor her online activity.
When she moves out of the house, it’s up to her to do the right thing. Until then, I will guide her every step of the way so that she has some idea of what the right thing even is. The internet is a wonderful place. It is also a dangerous place. Anyone who thinks porn is difficult to access online is just plain wrong – not to mention tragically naive. I want to protect my daughter. I do not want her to be one of the millions of modern kids who in their supposedly tender years already have a hardened and backwards view of sexuality.
Regardless of whether kids reach the level of “addiction” I think too much computer gives kids too much lazy and instant gratification, and then they expect and want that in other areas of their life. After computer games, will kids have the patience to learn a musical instrument or build a complicated model? My kids will say “I’m bored” and I think it’s partly because computer games set their expectations too high. But it is a huge challenge for me (and other parents) to enforce time limits because we have a conflict of interest – when kids are on the computer/TV we get quiet uninterrupted time in the house. I end up feeling guilty when I let me kids stay on the computer for hours at a time. I built and now use a simple timer program that lets me set time limits (like 1 hour/weekday and no more than 30 minutes at one sitting). The program gives the kids audible reminders like “5 minutes left” and logs them off when their time is up. It has ended all the fighting over computer time in our house, and I feel like a better parent for using it. Give it a try. You can try my software that enforces computer time limits. It’s called TimesUpKidz.
Absotely agree with Justin. As my kids are tempted to stay inside rather than playing and exercising outdoors, I use parental control software Ez Internet Timer and the problem is resolved. My kid has no reason to complain, because we all agreed on how much time he would have on the computer each night. I don’t have to watch the clock, and my son is learning a little something about time management.
I’m currently doing some research paper regarding people computer addiction but i guess i found answers inside our house me and my siblings fight because of computer. my mom couldn’t get off the screen my younger brother which now 8 yrs old,and as a result school related activities left undone because of time consumed in the computer…
computer addiction is not good esp. in students were time should be spent doing homeworks instead of surfing the net…