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

• enquiry@bj.ycef.com

• www.ycis-bj.com