Children growing weaker as computers replace outdoor activity

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/21/children-weaker-computers-replace-activity

One more justification for the "nothing with a screen on weekdays" rule in our house.

Enroll them into different outdoor sports activity, and make rules on what tym pc should be used.

It's quite hard though with the 'nothing with a screen on weekdays' as a lot of homework tasks from school now requires or involves the use of computers.


I find my students spending much homework time on laptops... which was similiar to what happened hen laptops first came out, many schools encourage this usage - learning how to type fast, use the interfaces etc.


Some parents of my students have rules where they have only play video games during school holidays, and fill up the week with activities that involves them to be out of the house - tennis, basketball, tutoring, drawing, piano etc

But the child does complain and "long" for computer games....


And with piano... it IS quite evident throughout the years that the kids have less and less strength. As mentioned in the article, some kids don't have a firm grip ie finger strength and control.


I suppose it's a balance, group activity sports are fun too, like games.

"It's quite hard though with the 'nothing with a screen on weekdays' as a lot of homework tasks from school now requires or involves the use of computers."


Fair enough. However one can limit the screen to homework. Also I have friends who equip their kids with a Nintendo DS each, only to be used on the school bus.