Technology: Good or Bad for kids?

♏*PHOENIX*♏ - posted on 05/29/2011

No he does not play on my phone, I ave an IPAD and so he plays games on there, he knows the rules and knows what games he can play.
I see nothing wrong with games played in moderation. And yes depending on the game it can help to develop the tech skill that im sure they will use way more then we ever did growing up.
My son is 8 and knows the basics of navigating the computer, I didn’t know until I was in the 7th- 8th grade

Sapphire - posted on 05/29/2011

Depends on the technology. Vegetating in front of a video game system for 5 hours=bad. Learning a variety of computer programs and systems=good in the competitive world.

I teach in a high school where every student & teacher has a laptop. We are text-book free. Instead, we have excellent on-line resources and kids are being highly computer literate. Of course you're always going to have kids that continue to be a vegetable in front of video games and graduate high school with carpal tunnel syndrome. That is not whjat I am talknig about. I am talking about kids who are skilled in the computers: operating systems, repair, programs, digital stuff, etc. Even the most basic of tasks like preparing a research paper on a Word document. My students will surpass students who have minimal computer access simply due to the research componenet. Of course there is a downside to too much technology as well. This generation wants instant gratification and think Googling a question will provide an authentic reply. I have a discussion at least once a week about trusting your sources. But by the time my son will graduate high school in 2023, I would expect the technology requirements to sky-rocket in comparison to the competitive edge around the world.

Tara - posted on 05/29/2011

Moderation is the key. All my kids except the 18 month old use the computer daily.
My 3 girls use it for educational purposes for probably an hour a day each, for entertainment purposes for probably an hour a day. They love Wizards 101 right now, which is a game online where they can learn to cast spells etc. there's a lot of math and reading involved in the game as well.
My 11 yr daughter has a DSi, we bought it for her for Christmas last year. She loves having it on long drives, she loves playing when her friends are over with their DSi cause they can link and play against each other. She also has several educational "games" like "play acoustic guitar" learn to play "piano" brain games, sudoku, history games and spelling games. She can also download games onto her dsi from the nintendo website when she gets a nintendo card for her birthday etc.

She also has a very cool digital camera that she uses more often than her DSi.

Even though we are pretty lenient when it comes to gadget time, they don't always use that time, especially now that the weather is nice. I don't think any of them were on the computer last week at all.
They all have play rehearsal on Tuesdays, swimming on Wednesdays and Art class on Thursday then they go to their dads.
He has strict rules, There is NO tv, NO computer, NO phone NO anything while they are there. He feels that they should spend 100% of their time with him. They don't always like his rules, but they are his rules so they follow them.
I think when it is supervised, and you know what your kids are doing online or on their gadgets and they have time guidelines, electronic gadgets etc. can be useful and kids should know how to use a computer, cell phone etc. as they grow up. This is reality and people communicate through electronic means more often than not. Kids need not be sheltered but should also have limits.
Moderation is key, so is communication with your kids about what they are learning, seeing and doing online.

Jakki - posted on 05/29/2011

I'm quite strict on electronic gadget time (incl TV, DVD, internet) and we don't have a wii or ds. I can see how addictive it is for kids, and I think it is a huge time waster for them. Destroys their brain cells and creativity and means they lose out on physical activity and social interactions.

But the kids love it so much I let them have a go at the weekend.

Deanna - posted on 05/28/2011

Yes.

good and bad. Just use it in moderation. Most parents don't bother to give set amounts of time on the electronics so kids miss out on being active or engaging with others because of it. It is truly sad. IMO

JuLeah - posted on 05/27/2011

Oh, to add. I asked my great grandmother once what 'modren invention' she liked best. She said, "Running water and indoor out houses"

JuLeah - posted on 05/27/2011

:) - I just read a 'Little House on the Prairie" book with my daughter. Set in America late 1800's for anyone out there who doesn't know the books.
So, Ma and Pa were sitting around the table talking about this very topic - modren inventions and how they were making folks less self sufficant. For example, the new kerosene lamps. Folks were depended on the oil, the lamp for light. Pa enjoyed having one, but wanted his kids to know how to function of they ever found themselves without.
Have things really changed?

Teresa - posted on 05/27/2011

I think it's fine in moderation, but we don't own any gaming systems... and won't. The girls do get some computer time though. My son hasn't done much on it yet.

Good Day! - posted on 05/27/2011

All things in moderation. I allow about an hour of tv a day for my three year old (though lately it's been more bc of the new baby, but we are slowly getting back into routine). She just started playing 'her game' on the computer....starfall.com. Her cousins all have Nintendo DS's. Her 'DS' is one of those handheld mazes with the ball in the middle where you try to maneuver the ball through the maze. LOL. She found that at her Mimi's house and called it her DS. I'll let her think that's what it is for a while. She'll likely not be getting a real DS or any handheld electronic device. I find them pretty pointless...unless you frequently travel several hours at a time in the car or something.

Joy - posted on 05/27/2011

I think it's a little of both. It IS teaching them valuable skills that they'll need, but if it's not monitored by parents closely enough, it can be isolating and unhealthy for them. My son's only 3, so as of now, the only electronic toy he has is a Leap Frog Leap Pad, which he hardly uses because he prefers me to read to him. But he does like to sit in my lap when I'm on the computer and I even gave him my old keyboard and mouse so he could sit next to me and pretend to type. His fingers aren't big enough, but I've begun to show him the keys. He doesn't have any video games but he loves to watch Daddy play football or racing or monster trucks.

Jenni - posted on 05/27/2011

I agree with both statements.



I think moderation, like in anything else; is the key. I think it can be beneficial to survival in our 'technologically-driven world'. But they shouldn't be spending their entire day wired-in.



Children need a balance of activities to encourage benefits from all form of play... playing sports, imaginary play, exploration of the natural world, artistic play, reading, co operative play etc. and yes, technological play can be thrown into the mix in this day and age.

September - posted on 05/27/2011

We don't think it's good for our 2.5 year old so we limit his screen time which includes computer time. He does not play with our cell phones. I do think technology, if not regulated can cause isolation and cause one to be less social and less active as well. We don't completely deprive our son but we spend more time doing things that don't involve technology. Our son loves to be outdoors, which I think is wonderful! :)