by Andy Rementer @ TechnoTuesday.com
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Posts tagged as:
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Computer Games are Good for Kids, Parents Say (Microsoft-commissioned survey of parents). Commenter “WinTard” says,
I would agree. My kid has been playing with computers since age 1, starting with Mother Goose. It allows them to familiarize themselves with a critical tool that will be necessary for their future success in the 3rd millennium and 21st century. And it develops an interest and passion for something worthwhile.
The major source of calamity in our society is people plodding through life without direction or objectives. And idle, bored minds turn to nasty things…
How did our civilization ever prosper in the days before computers?
Why do so many parents get this so wrong? Idle, bored minds eventually turn toward imagination and creativity. Parents need to read Richard Louv and Jane Healy.
There is plenty of time for kids to acquaint themselves with technology. They don’t need a mouse shoved into their hands at one year or even five. Jane Healy, who has studied kids and computers thinks age 7 is a good time to introduce kids to computers. Young kids should be exploring the real world with all of their senses. They really don’t need the distraction of computers.
When did your kids start using computers? Do you think what they have learned will be a major factor in their success in life?
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How’s that for a twist in the title? It’s usually the parents who desire the ability to limit their kids access to Facebook, MySpace, online games, and YouTube.
In an interesting comment on a website, a homeschooler said that her oldest child was not yet old enough for Facebook, and she limits her kids to about 3 hours a week.
Her husband is the only computer addict in the home though. She says, “I wish I could limit my husband’s computer time like I do the kids. He’s addicted to Facebook. I would like him to play checkers or ball or something — anything — with the kids.”
Hmmm. ComputerTime can help in that situation, but would it create a sticky situation? Parents are expected to have authority over their kids. Married couples are on equal footing (usually), so she can’t really force ComputerTime’s limits onto him as if she was his mom.
She can ask for his consent, but he may not give it. She has surely pleaded with him to spend more time with the kids and less of the computer. If that didn’t work, he may just see her as nagging if she keeps trying.
What if this concerned Mom turned over control to the kids? Let the kids negotiate some reasonable limits with thier dad. “Dad, we will let you have five hours per/day, but not between 3:30pm and 9:00pm. Instead we want you doing stuff with us. We’re only going to be kids for a few more years you know.” (Cue the Harry Chapin here)
What reasonable parent would have a problem with that?
This tactic might work as well for workaholic moms and dads too. Don’t squander away the time you should be enjoying with your kids. Set limits with ComputerTime if you need to.
What do you think about kids being able to limit their parents’ time on the computer?
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As impressive as a robot playing Giant Steps by John Coltrane might be, it has no soul. It’s clearly not human. We can appreciate the technical merits, however we cannot appreciate it musically. For that we need the real thing as played by a talented human being.
Likewise, while we can appreciate all of the things that computers and technology can do for us in life, but we must remember that they have no soul, and our souls require that we mingle with other souls in order to truly be happy and satisfied. As much as computers and technology play a role in helping us do our work or entertaining us, we need to unplug and just be human sometimes. If we don’t, then how can we be happy or satisfied?
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