As a kid, the Atari 2600 was the best thing to come out since sliced bread. I can’t deny playing pac-man and missile command for hours on end on my then new gaming console, until I’d get a call from a friend nearby who wanted to get a bunch of people together to play baseball. I’d drop that joystick in a second whe it came to sporting activities.
Nowdays it seems that kids have less of an interest in sports, but would rather sit in front of a computer surfing the net, or playing the tons and tons of videogames out there. Registration for municipal sport teams have declined drastically in the past decade or so, and anti-socialism among children is on the rise. Seems like the only time kids get together these days is to play multiplayer games on their Playstations or Xboxes. It’s quite obvious that technology has changed our lives, but I think it’s important that parents should intice their kids to get out of the house and get some physical fitness, given that over 60% of the USA is overweight, and 25% of those people in their 30’s are obese.
I’m not a parent yet, but this really concerns me, and when I do become a parent, I’ll try to do all I can to intice my child to get more involved in physical activities apart from the Internet or Video Games. The ideal situation would be to have a healthy balance between the two.
Does this issue concern any of the parents out there (or future parents)? What are your thoughts or comments on this?
I must admit ,i'm a very strict mother
i don't allow my elder son to sit in front of computer more than 1 hour per day ......
i hate video games n until now my kids have no clue , what a video game is ......to me , these all things are responsible for less stronger family bonding .....be it tv, video games or computers .........to me these r the worst ways of handling kids ............!!!!!!
we have a routine for our kids ......we go out or play at home ....depending on weather etc. but i know the most upsetting time for me would be when my kids r glued to telly / computer coz 'i'm busy '
yes i'm busy most of time but all my business practically involves my kids too
n i think u just once need to lay a foundation of discipline n kids r so sweet .....they r moulded in that way ......
but make it sure u r convinced enough to convince them on this ....!!:)
I've been a hideously addicted computer/video gamer since I was 6 years old and got an Atari 2600.
I've never taken part in a sports team, because almost all of my free time was spent in front of a computer.
I consider myself to have worked out fine (I'm at the lower end of the healthy weight range for my height despite being physically totally out of shape, thanks to my parents instilling eat-healthy values in me), and I wouldn't even hesitate to raise my children in the same way.
The one difference that I would do is to never buy them a video game console, and insist that they use just PCs. Video games just don't provide the same educational experience as using a PC does. I'd also try and ensure that when I have kids, they are taught to write at least basic computer programmes by the age of 12.
Teach a child to use a Playstation properly, and he has no skills that are useful later on.
Teach a child to be proficient with a computer, and he has the basis of skills that can be applied to a good career.
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*Originally posted by Afia: *
i hate video games n until now my kids have no clue , what a video game is ......to me , these all things are responsible for less stronger family bonding .....be it tv, video games or computers .........to me these r the worst ways of handling kids ............!!!!!!
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How do you feel about the various educational TV programmes, or educational video games or computer applications for children?
Good point Mad Scientist. I also think it's important that a child at an early age knows how to handle the ins and outs of a PC, and I totally agree with you on the educational differences between a gaming console and PC games.
Actually, looking back at the difference between my reply, Afia's reply, and Fret's post, I think one thing is kind of clear.
Everyone wants their kids to experience the same kind of childhood as they did. This is only natural, because it helps you and your children to relate.
For example, from what I understand, Afia's childhood didn't really involve computers that much. She would therefore feel that computers aren't an important part of normal childhood, and in fact time spent on computers is intefering with activites that should be done as part of childhood. She would find it difficult to relate with her kids if they spent hours and hours playing games. Afia, please forgive me if I am wrong about this.
Fret is in the middle ground, having had a lot of exposure to both computers and physical activities during his childhood, with preference given to sports. He therefore feels that this is normal, and he too would feel uncomfortable if his kids were computer-centric.
I, on the other hand, had the kind of childhood which firmly established me as a computer geek by the the time I was 8 years old. I would find it difficult to relate to my future childrens' lives if they were out playing sports and so on, because that's the kind of thing that I never did and which I in fact actively avoided. Instead, I actually want to direct my future children (if I inshallah have some) so that they get as closely attached to computers as I did, because that is the childhood that produced me and that is the childhood that i wish my children to have.
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*Originally posted by Fret Wizard: *
Good point Mad Scientist. I also think it's important that a child at an early age knows how to handle the ins and outs of a PC, and I totally agree with you on the educational differences between a gaming console and PC games.
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The one caveat to this is that in this age of user-friendly PCs, that line is getting blurred.
Part of the reason why I became proficient at computers is that in the olden days, PC's were horribly user-unfriendly and you had to learn a fair bit about how they worked in order to get the dang games to run!!! :D
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*Originally posted by Afia: *
i hate video games n until now my kids have no clue , what a video game is ......to me , these all things are responsible for less stronger family bonding .....be it tv, video games or computers .........to me these r the worst ways of handling kids ............!!!!!!
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Heh....We (me and my sibs) practically grew up surrounded by half dozen different computers, free access to the TV. We were taught to be responsible instead of being isolated from all of these "ills". I remember spending whole nights in front of the PC writing my own games and just fiddleing with the computer, along with that I throughly enjoyed sports and still play Field Hockey regularly. All of us turned out to be ok (independent by the age of 22). We all still have a very close relationship with each other.
I agree with maddy. Consoles should be a no-no, but proficiency in computers is an absolute must these days.
On a side note..
Being overly strict and running a very tight routine just makes kids more more dependent on you for decisions. I have seen kids who wouldnt goto the loo without asking mommy :-). I had kids in my class who didnt play hockey because their parent were affraid that they'd get hurt. Totally absurd.
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*Originally posted by who---me: * I had kids in my class who didnt play hockey because their parent were affraid that they'd get hurt.
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Reminds me of a story of this guy in my class at school. He was a star player on the rugby team, his mother knew he played but never came to watch him. She didn't even know what rugby was.
One day, she decided to support him by coming to watch him play (he was about 13-14 years old at the time). When she saw how violent rugby is she was horrified. When her son got tackled and sent crashing to the ground, she snapped. She stormed onto the pitch, grabbed her son, marched over to the referee and shouted at him for allowing her kid to play such a dangerous sport. She then stormed off home with her boy.
Needless to say, he was suitably victimised by the other kids at school the next day :D
reminds me of a funny video I saw once of a boxing match. 2 boxers were in the ring belting it out while the crowd was going nuts, one of them finally knocked the other out. The mother of the boxer who got knocked down, ran into the ring, and started punching the winning boxer. The referee had to hold her back
relax u all guys .....seems my 'confession' has help you building a wrong perception .....:)
why i hate video games .....???
actually i've seen too many people who were adicted to these games n unfortunately none of them is now a useful member of society ......may be my view is biased but i'm a mother and i don't want anything bad for my kids
as for using computer .....i've mentioned earlier that i do allow my son to use it but for 1 hour per day ........actually that one hour he enjoys as much as he can ...........i know its important n as i don't know much about computers (yes mad scientist u r right :))..n i feel myself that its essential
we play hockey....build blocks ,...run around , play hide n seek ..or go outside in a play ground / garden etc.......it is much fun than keeping ur kids busy with games n u taking a nap .....
fret....you asked me my opinion about educational programmes n educational video games .......!!
we do watch 'em together .......n we discuss it ....
we watch 'telletubbies' n sometimes 'tweeni'es
i like 'em for my kids coz there is always some theme behind fun
but usually my kids don't like to watch telly .....they r fond of 'reading' books .....watching pictures or sometimes they want me to read a story for them
i have no intention to keep them dependent .....but i just don't like the idea of baby sitting using telly n video games
who me ......we don't have a tight or strict routine .......its just llike there r some rules for everyone ..........fixed meal times ....fix going to bed routine .......n nothing else than that ........they do wat they feel like ........:)
like every parent i don't want to do anything bad with my kids .......but there is simple formula :"excess of everything is bad" be it computer /video games or be it no exposure to outside world
Hmm, I wouldn't restrict anything, I was brought with nothing restricted. I would however try to have good channels available, prolly Pakistani like PTV or Geo (if it ever becomes available here). And computer, I would only allow the kids to have DOS, then Linux and then, if they want, Windows. I'm hoping linux will be good enough by that time that there will be nothing from Windows that they'll need. :)
I still feel it’s important that the child have a healthy balance between technology and physical fitness. Yes, they have physical education at school, but I just don’t think it’s enough. Kids should get together with other kids and partake in activities other than multiplayer video games. At the same time as mad scientist said, kids should learn to be technically proficient in terms of PC’s at a young age and keep themselves up to date. Parents should regulate the amount of chat time or internet use in general for kids. Pathalogical internet use does affect millions of people in the US after all. I don’t see this overweight problem in the US getting better anytime soon. I guess those fast food restaurants don’t help either
I don't like video games, I get bored with them very quickly although as a kid it was a blast for a while. Never could get addicted to them though, but I've seen plenty who are. I have to agree that kids should be encouraged to do sports which is way more fun (at least IMO) and much better for you in terms of health. As long as there aren't any violent-tendencies mothers around at least :D
"Computer games could become part of the school curriculum after researchers found they had significant educational value. "
“Adventure, quest and simulation type games have a lot of benefit - they’re quite complex and create a context in which children can develop important skills,” said Professor McFarlane.
Now i realize that a balance between technology and fitness is very much needed. My mom was a sport freak..she used to play field hockey, baseball and used to take part in javelin throw and shot put competitions..but she stopped after getting married and gained weight. I on the other hand i was totally opposite to her. But now i realize the importance of sports and exercise and i believe its never too late to try something new :-)
As a kid i spent time with academics, or playing cricket and table tennis with siblings or walking or bicycling or even watching tv or once in a while playing computer games..now i think..i could have been more active.
When we moved to canada..my father didn't buy a tv..instead he bought a computer. We never played any video games either. But what i see that my youngest sibling spent that time in learning computer softwares..he spent that time learning about the religion..learnt to read arabic in a mosque..played tons of sports. He loves everything..be it ice hockey, swimming, cricket, baseball, basket ball, skating, roller bladding, racquet ball, table tennis, bicycling and much more. On the other hand i see two of my cousins..one just turned 6 and other one is 14..they both are fat..they sit in front tv or computer..hardly go and play out...and there parents are concerned now about the health.
So, i would like to see some balance in the future between fitness and technology :-)
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*Originally posted by Qrius: *
On the other hand i see two of my cousins..one just turned 6 and other one is 14..they both are fat..they sit in front tv or computer..hardly go and play out...and there parents are concerned now about the health.
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Exactly, that's what would concern me the most. Anti-socialism among children as a result of too much computer use or TV.
Get kids involved in sports and extracurricular activities, music lessons, karate, etc. If they love video games, get them the Wii system, it's fun and you're active. Plan family events, like go bowling, or arrange for soccer or cricket games amongst the family or cousins. I think nowadays parents too don't invest much time in their kids lives, they are so busy with work. Take the time out to spend with your kids, and try not to leave them alone in front of the tv or computer for hours, set limits on it.
very true.