All you hear about these days is how bad it is for a child to be stuck indoors watching TV or on the computer, however I am going to beg to differ and argue that there are some fantastic reasons kids should be allowed to both view TV and play computer games.
First of all, look at the literacy skills a child learns when on the computer. My son is not even 5 but because of his stubborness to want to play certain games on CBBC and other sites he has learnt to read and understand instructions. I don't see this as a bad thing. Also I have seen my son's concentration span increase ten fold. Being a pushy Jewish mum I have tried to sit with Josh after school and help him with his ABC and reading, but he refuses, yet let him surf the net and he will sit for ages reading, concentrating and interacting.
Then we come to the Wii...probably the best invention of a computer game so far. Boy has it helped improve Josh's coordination which I have to say was a little like mine, useless! He doesnt sit aimlessly clicking a little button, he is running back and forth, planning moves and learning a healthly thirst for competition.
Do I think that we can compare our children's childhood to that of our own or that of our parents generation. No, our kids are growing up in a completely different world and need to be armed with the suitable skills to compete in today's society and the computer age it is. I will never let Josh sit at home all day and night on the Net or Wii instead of playing with his friends, doing after school clubs and completing his traditional homework, but neither will I discourage his thirst to learn the technological advances of today.
So, does this make me an irresponsible mum???
