Computer time rules
Computers and games can be great for kids but it’s important to lay down some ground rules for a happy household.
Computers, television and games are all wonderful tools for leisure and learning for the whole family. Despite the demonised perception of screens taking over our kids’ lives, computers dominate 21st century communication and it is no bad thing if our children understand and feel confident with them.
However, it is important to set some limits on computer time, especially for younger children. Games are easy to get drawn into and can mean you are sitting on one position for lengthy periods of time which is not great for posture. They can also mean you are concentrating too intensely for longer that you should – when goalkeeper David James used to play for Liverpool FC he once blamed a series of bad performances on playing too long on his computer game!
And that’s all before you get onto other issues like having to drag your kids off the computer so other people can use them, or to get the kids round the table at mealtimes. Variety is, as they say, the spice of life, so here are some tips for setting computer time limits.
Computer time – what’s safe?
Screen time of all kinds should be limited so that you don’t become too sedentary – this applies to adults as well as children. However, there are no official guidelines beyond recommendations for young people that states a maximum period of around two hours per day screen time (including computer and television use) is good practice.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents have some useful insights on the risks of prolonged computer use their website.
Computer time – setting limits
• Make your rules and stick to them. You know your family best. If your child is younger you might set a limit of 30 minutes once or twice a day. If you do, make sure you stick to this. Forgetting the time and letting it run on will make your child think 30 minutes is longer than it really is, and come the next time you declare time’s up you’ll have a row on your hands. The easiest thing to do is set the kitchen timer, then you can all hear it when 30 minutes is up.
• Think about timing. If getting your children to do homework is a chore midweek, or their after-school timetable is full of other lessons, classes and playdates, consider whether it’s better to limit time on the home computer to weekends.
• Computer use for homework. Be fair and show your child that you understand the difference between time spent on the computer for homework (where relevant) and time for fun. However, make sure the two don’t run into each other or you might find your child hasn’t actually got any work done at all!
• ‘Lock’ them out. It sounds extreme, but you can download software that allows you to time how long your child’s login will operate at one sitting. There are lots of companies offering this online, but check with your internet service provider first to see if this is an add-on they offer as part of your rental package.
Internet safety – useful links
Don’t forget that the best option is to situate any computer used by your kids somewhere in the centre of the home rather than in their bedroom. This way you can keep in touch with what they are looking at without hanging on their shoulder.
Kidsmart is a useful website for parents and those who work with children, all about how to keep online activity, social networking and mobile phone use safe.
Communicating for Success is a project combining the efforts of BT and the Football Foundation to encourage families to get to grips with technology.
Kids and Computers has all kinds of useful advice for online safety, tech tips and ways of helping your child have an all-round enjoyable computer experience.