Yew Chung International
School of Beijing
Computers and Your Children
Our Society is Changing Rapidly
• We live in a technologically driven society. The implications for this
are some of the most serious issues that you as parents will face.
It wasn’t like
this in my day!
That’s Life!
• Computers, entertainment media and the internet are all
components of our lives - and our children’s.
• How we approach their use will have far reaching affects and
consequences on our children.
Good Cop Bad Parent
• Behaving in a socially acceptable way is part of your child’s life.
“Fitting in” is important.
• Making friends, keeping up with technologies and doing what
other children do are important aspects of your child’s social
development.
• Denying children access to entertainment media or the latest
gadgetry can ostracize your child and alienate them from their
peers.
Problems
• Entertainment media often contains violent images and gaming
content.
• Violent entertainment leaves a mark, even on children who don‘t
engage in aggressive behaviors.
• Witnessing violent acts increases general feelings of hostility and
can lead to desensitization and a lack of empathy for human
suffering.
Violent Games
Violent Behaviour
Associated Problems
Excessive use of entertainment media can lead to sexual stereotyping.
Psychological Implications
• Excessive use of social media sites and can lead to emotional distress,
anxiety and depression.
• Regular users who develop a compulsive internet habit replace real-life
social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites.
• In America over 88% of all children play online games. It is estimated
that over 3million children could be showing signs of addiction.
Anxiety
• Did you know… more than 4 hours per day playing online games is
considered an addiction.
• Addictive behaviour can have a serious impact on mental health.
• Daily users of social media sites say they feel anxious if they don’t
“log in” every day.
• Have the words and images on your screen supplanted the people
in front of you?
And the health effects?
• Children who regularly use digital media for long periods of
time are disengaged from the reality of their surroundings.
• When they engage with technology they disengage from
reality.
Does it matter?
Over 70% of children do not participate in the one hour per day
recommended physical exercise
YET
the average length of time per day that an 8 – 18 year old child in the
UK spent on entertainment media was 7 hours and 38 minutes (2010).
Often this is more as children multi task on more then one device at a
time.
Overweight
• 18% of children in the US are clinically obese (2010).
• Is there a correlation between regular and over usage of computer
and weight issues in children?
Do computers make children smarter?
• Computers can give children an academic boost however, just like
books, it depends on what information you are being exposed to.
• If you read comic books will they make you smarter?
• If children spend extended periods of time engaged with
entertainment media (for pure pleasure) then the answer is no,
computers will not make you smarter.
Computers are Important
• Teaching has to mirror the changing reality of the world.
Advice
Parenting is a complex issue made harder in this age of technology.
A few points to consider:
• Have the computer in view of you.
• Watch what your children are doing/who they are chatting with/what
games they are playing.
• Take an active interest in everything your child does.
• Be the boss. Children have a right to privacy but when it comes to
using a computer/assessing entertainment or social media, parents
need to set rules and limitations.
• Use parental locks.
Thank you!
• To find out more about YCIS Beijing, please contact:
• (+86 10) 8585 3731
• www.ycis-bj.com
