My topic fits right in with the discussion from yesterday. Do kids today use cell phones and computers too much? In my opinion, yes!
The computer is a great tool. There is so many things people can learn on the internet, but the younger generation has seemed to forget that. All they ever do is get on sites like Myspace and Facebook. I think it is getting way too excessive. It consumes their thoughts at all times. They just itch to check their pages.
I grounded my oldest from the computer and her phone for this whole week. I think it is killing her. I was nice and let her respond here last night. I get up this morning and find that sometime during the middle of the night my computer had went to myspace. She says she didn't do it... my laptop must just have a mind of it's own. I am telling you, our kids are addicted!!
The cell phones are just as bad. They are constantly on them. My daughter has to be told on a regular basis to put the phone up. She is texting the whole way through the grocery store, everytime we are in the car, before school... Shoot I think they text people that are in the same room.
Thoughts?
SIS Brandy
Posts
18 comments:
Hi Brandy, Great topic. I let my girls have one hour a day on the computer. That is only when they ask to get on or they are not grounded from it. They don't get on it every day. They have a a game system in their room that they don't play very often. I guess I'm lucky in that department.
My oldest wants a Face Book page because her friends have one. I aksed her if her friends jumped off a bridge would she? I might let her have one when she is 30.
No cell phones for my kids yet. I'm just a mean Mommy!
BJ,
You're not a mean mommy! Just wait til they hit the teens - you'll give in.
I thinks it's good that mine love the computer, I just want to see them explore and learn things more. Chatting with myspace friends doesn't teach much!
SIS Brandy
Hi Brandy, Mine love the computer as well. They don't seem to get on it as much as other kids. When they do it is to play games or watch shows. Smurfette uses the computer for school work. She does have an E-mail address, but that is used to keep up with her dad and grandparents.
Are you sure I'm not a mean mommy? I get told that almost on a daily basis!!
My kids have fur, feathers, claws, and a hard shell. Although Barney does have a page on Facebook and a Dogster page.
I like being the mean mommy. Means I'm doin' my job.
Don't get me started on the amount of time that too many kids today spend on electronic pursuits that don't actually teach them anything.
When I was a kid, I read all of the time. However, I was not allowed to bring a book with me to the dinner table. (We were allowed to read the newspaper at breakfast and mostly did this as a family, rotating the paper's sections.) These days, my rule would be, "No texting or talking on the phone at the table."
Kids are not the only ones. I think it's flat out rude to take a phone call during dinner, unless it's absolutely a vital call. Do not put down your fork and text or Tweet anybody either.
Yet, I see adults do this all of the time.
Checking the message, just to see if it's important, is as far as I'll bend. :-)
Hi Mary, Try waiting on customers as they are talking on their cell phones. That always gets on my nerves.
I don't have kids, so don't really have any right to an opinion but I agree with you. :)
When I was on the road, way back in my rock star days, I admittedly spent a great deal of time playing video games. I worked until almost 2 in the morning and would stay up until almost dawn playing great games like Mario. For me, it was very addictive. I loved the challenge and when I would get a new game, I would play it almost non-stop until I had beat it.
So, I sort of understand why kids are so captivated by their video games. However, I did have a life outside of games. My problem with my eldest and his gaming systems and computer is that, for a while, that was his world. He was living in a make-believe world with pretend characters. I felt that he was missing out on the importance of socializing with "real" people.
But then I thought to myself that reading can be like that. When you read, you get caught up in a whole other world. Heck, most of the time, that's why I read.
So my rule is, everything in moderation. I don't want my kids spending too much time doing anything. They are allowed some time to play games, some time on the computer,and absolutely time to read, but then it's time to interact with the real world.
SIS Bren
Brenda,
That's what I worry about with my oldest. She has been in her own world every since she got myspace. I am going to be more strict from now on when it comes to time limits.
Off subject, but has anyone noticed viruses and problems because of these sites? I have had problems since she got her account.
I don't have kids.... but I have eyes. At the library, we used to have a tween/teen reading club. They didn't HAVE to read a particular book. They just came and our YA librarians talked up certain books which would lead to discussions. Also kids got special credit at school if they attended. This used to be very popular. Attendance waned over the last few years, drastically. This year we abandoned the program.
Meanwhile all summer long I'd see kids coming into the library vying for computer time and it was always for MySpace, FB or games. Period. Obviously I can understand the socializing aspect. I suppose it's an advanced version of us hanging out after school and gossiping with friends. Still... like anything, when it become all-consuming that can't be good.
As for phone, I see the constant texting as well. I don't get it, but that's me. The thing that bothers me more is the new thing I've been hearing about 'Sexting'. I have a friend who's a dean at a middle school and she says it's a big problem. Seriously? Young teens taking pics of their private parts or of themselves in compromising positions and sending the pics via the phone to ... whoever? I never thought I was a fuddy duddy, but I find that shocking and sad. What ever happened to respecting one's body?
But I digress. Sorry. As a few here said, I think the key is moderation. To limit tech time and to expose kids to additional exciting past times. I'd have to think about it and get back to you on what exactly.
Great post, Brandy.
SIS Beth
BJ and Mary, I agree. I see adults texting and the talking on the cell at inappropriate moments too. It's annoying and rude to be waiting on a person, to be helping them and they take a phone call, standing there gabbing while other people wait behind them and while you wait for them to finish so you can HELP them. Makes me nuts. Ditto to people who take calls during dinner and such. What did folks do before cell phones? Grr.
SIS Beth
Oh sexting... that opens a can of words. I don't even want to think about our kids doing that!
SIS Brandy
um worms :)
Brandy
Brandy, places like MySpace and FB are ridden with viruses. People post links and You Tube clips that are often infected. Very dangerous. I have a MySpace account for promo reasons, but hardly ever go there. I just don't enjoy the feel of it there. Now FB, I love. I have tons of writer and musician friends there. It's a way to keep in touch with what's going on in every one's lives. But lately, it's been infected with viruses too. Steve swears I the recent virus I got that crashed my laptop came from there. So... make sure you have the best virus fighting software. Scary stuff.
SIS Beth
Linda... Dogster page? Whaa? Do tell.
Grace... Sounds to me like you're a 'good' mommy.
Tori... I don't have kids either, but we can still take an active interest in new generations!
SIS Beth
Hi all!
Sexting? That's just gross. I mean, really? Most body parts, especially those body parts, are extremely unattractive. Like I want to see someone's weiner on my phone. NASTY!
Moderation for our Nation. EVERYBODY SING! Moderation for our Nation!
SIS Barb aka Elle J Rossi
Beth,
Yep. www.dogster.com Bogie's page is still there and I started one for Barney along with their dog pages at Facebook which you can see on my profile.
Post a Comment