Children and technology.

[jkleinman]

If this has already be covered before I'm sorry, but I'm new here so I haven't seen any of it.

How do you feel about children and technology these days?  It seems to me like the computer, tv, and video games have become the center of so many children's lives these days and it bothers me.  Too many parents these days seem to let these things become a "babysitter" for their child and I don't think that's right.  I remember being a child and being told to go outside and play.  We didn't spend countless hours glued to a tv screen.  We spent countless hours outside in the yard playing on our swing set, climbing trees, and well of course getting dirty.  I know that there are a lot of areas where a child being outside is too dangerous, but when we were stuck inside because of weather we played with our toys or played board games, we didn't sit in front of a tv all day.  We didn't even get a computer until 1996 and we were only allowed a short time on it.  We also didn't have video game systems in the house.  Mom didn't believe they were a good thing. 

I also find myself wondering about the video games for babies and toddlers.  Is that really a good idea or could it be starting a bad habit that will only get worse as they get older?  We were read books, and such to learn.  Children has so much energy.  Isn't it better to give them something constructive to do, i.e. play outside with the neighborhood kids, get them involved in sports, or some sort of after school activity so that they burn off that excess energy?  They're not going to burn off that energy infront of a tv or a computer, it's just gonna pool there and become worse than they have to blow it off some where.

This is just what I think.  Sorry if this is a bit confusing.

[marriedmomma3]

 I think technology can be your best friend but also your worst enemy and it is up to the parent to establish the health medium.  My daughter has learned so much from dora and her leapster.  She learned more spanish from dora than her puerto rican father, whose family barely speaks english.  She is getting a DS for Christmas (she will be 4) and she is getting educational games with them.  I dont belive it as a baby sitter, but if I have to get stuff done I just put on their favorite show on dvr and they are good until i restart it lol.

[crystal626rose]

We have a computer ,video games and 4 t.v.'s in the house , yet some how I have created an accidental system . The kids never go on the comp. That is my toy , however they do  have the option of t.v. or video games for 1 hour a day on school days . They are required to have homework and chores done first. It seems to work for us . I am very lucky to have children that love to read and play outside so they chose those instead .

[Domzmom2005]

I know what you mean.

We shut off our cable because we were all becoming couch potatoes. On nice days we go outside and play as much as we can, but now that it is getting really cold I know we'll be inside most of the time and while Dominic has a lot of movies and a nintendo (I mean old school, square controllers with 2 buttons and cartridge games nintendo) he actually prefers to play with his toys which I am thankful for. I do allow him to use the computer occasionally (he goes to starfall.com) but that is only when he has been really good, and he is only on there for a little while.

[MamaSyn]

 My Dominic is 7 and I allow him to play video games and on the computer.  He's been using the computer since he was about 2 1/2, so he can run one better than most adults I know.  Times are changing, they always do.  The reason most of us spent our time outside as kids was b/c we didn't HAVE most of these things when we were kids.  My parents refused to buy what was out there... we didn't get a video gaming system as a kid.  PC's weren't really popular until I was a teenager, and I didn't use the internet for the first time until I was about 15.  However, my little boy is still a rambunctious, crazy little seven year old that plays outside as frequently as he can.  And, I only allow him on for about 45 mins. at a time.  But, it makes me wonder if the huge flux of ADD isn't because of the rapid images of a television and video game system.... our brains weren't designed to handle that, I don't believe.  I watched a lot of TV as a kid and I know I have ADD... I can't focus on anything...... oh, look, squirrel outside!.... for too long or.... did you hear that noise?..... oh, yeah, um, I get distracted... lol

[KallmeKrazee]

Blame the parents, not technology.

[jkleinman]

Sorry.  I think that was kind of what I was getting at with the electronic babysitter.  I know a lady who's 9 year old spends all of his time, that he's not doing homework, sleeping, or in school, playing violent games on his xbox.

[jkleinman]

I actually agree with you completely.  I am the oldest of 4.  I'm 29, one sister is 25, one is 21, and my brother is 17.  My 25 year old sister and I spent more time outside playing and we have never had problems with ADD.  My 21 year old sister spent too much time in front of the tv and the computer and now has ADD.  My brother is also showing signs of it.

Quoting MamaSyn:

 My Dominic is 7 and I allow him to play video games and on the computer.  He's been using the computer since he was about 2 1/2, so he can run one better than most adults I know.  Times are changing, they always do.  The reason most of us spent our time outside as kids was b/c we didn't HAVE most of these things when we were kids.  My parents refused to buy what was out there... we didn't get a video gaming system as a kid.  PC's weren't really popular until I was a teenager, and I didn't use the internet for the first time until I was about 15.  However, my little boy is still a rambunctious, crazy little seven year old that plays outside as frequently as he can.  And, I only allow him on for about 45 mins. at a time.  But, it makes me wonder if the huge flux of ADD isn't because of the rapid images of a television and video game system.... our brains weren't designed to handle that, I don't believe.  I watched a lot of TV as a kid and I know I have ADD... I can't focus on anything...... oh, look, squirrel outside!.... for too long or.... did you hear that noise?..... oh, yeah, um, I get distracted... lol

[CoeyG]

Quoting jkleinman:

If this has already be covered before I'm sorry, but I'm new here so I haven't seen any of it.

How do you feel about children and technology these days?  It seems to me like the computer, tv, and video games have become the center of so many children's lives these days and it bothers me.  Too many parents these days seem to let these things become a "babysitter" for their child and I don't think that's right.  I remember being a child and being told to go outside and play.  We didn't spend countless hours glued to a tv screen.  We spent countless hours outside in the yard playing on our swing set, climbing trees, and well of course getting dirty.  I know that there are a lot of areas where a child being outside is too dangerous, but when we were stuck inside because of weather we played with our toys or played board games, we didn't sit in front of a tv all day.  We didn't even get a computer until 1996 and we were only allowed a short time on it.  We also didn't have video game systems in the house.  Mom didn't believe they were a good thing. 

I also find myself wondering about the video games for babies and toddlers.  Is that really a good idea or could it be starting a bad habit that will only get worse as they get older?  We were read books, and such to learn.  Children has so much energy.  Isn't it better to give them something constructive to do, i.e. play outside with the neighborhood kids, get them involved in sports, or some sort of after school activity so that they burn off that excess energy?  They're not going to burn off that energy infront of a tv or a computer, it's just gonna pool there and become worse than they have to blow it off some where.

This is just what I think.  Sorry if this is a bit confusing.

"Technology" is nothing new.  When I was growing up in the 50s/60s the television was my "electronic babysitter".  I was plopped in front of "the boob tube" handed snackage and told not to bother my mother.

Technology is wonderful when not abused.  I saw what problems my mother's way of raising me was so my daughter's time with television, game system, computer, etc were limited to an hour a day even on weekends while she was growin up.  Yeah it meant that I had to spend more time with her but that is WHY I had her in the first place, not to plop her in front of an electronic babysitter.  When we first got "on line" I supervised and monitored my daughter's activities, never felt the need to use those "parental" aids.  Sadly too many parents don't do their jobs as parents...but that's not the fault of techology.

[Cara5]

My oldest 4 kids each have a netbook computer

I have a laptop

DP has a laptop

All but the baby have their own game boys

We have a television (no cable tho)

DP has a playstation

We have a family Wii 

My kids still spend plenty of time outside.  They are not allowed to fix themselves to a screen for hours on end.  I dont use tv or games as a baby sitter.  There is a balance between screens and childhood, it can just be hard to find at first. 

[AutymsMommy]

We have no problem combining the techno world with the traditional world.

We have several computers and laptops, we have televisions in every room of the house, we all have cell phones, we have a wii... our 8 year old daughter has her own computer, a television in her bedroom, and is receiving a DSi for Christmas.

We also play board games and card games, as a family, nightly. We take walks, play outside, go to Barnes and Noble, read together at night, eat dinner in the dining room nightly etc.

I do not think that technology is bad unless it takes over your life.