It is true that the computer is an incredibly useful tool and can help you do many things, but wasting time on it is also very easy. Many kids spend too much time on the computer, to the dismay of some parents. Computer addiction, especially for some games or chats, has been described as being as powerful as a drug addiction; your child may not be at that level, but overuse of the computer could lead to more serious problems over time. Note: Steps that involve using software (such as checking your internet history) can be easily bypassed.
Steps
Step 1. Talk to your child about their excessive computer use
Find out if there is a particular reason why he spends so much time on the computer - sometimes the computer works as an escape from reality. If your child has problems that make them want to "run away," try dealing with them.
Step 2. Move the computer to an open area if it isn't already - sometimes taking it out of the kid's room is enough to reduce its use, and it's easier to keep an eye on it
(However, sometimes rooms are a temporary site while cleaning other rooms, so this tip doesn't always hold true.)
Step 3. Enter a password to log into your computer, so only you can do it
Your child will have to ask you to turn it on for him to use it (but this is not recommended for older kids, who need a computer to study, etc.).
Step 4. Find out how serious your child's addiction is, and what exactly is he addicted to - does he spend all his time playing games, chatting online or just surfing the internet?
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If he has an information addiction, as long as it's legal, safe, and decent, then that shouldn't be a problem. Using the internet for educational purposes, rather than for chat or play, is a great use. Programming sites are very useful and give the opportunity to acquire a skill that can be exploited over time. If your child has a learning addiction, this is good, and beneficial for their education. Praise him for it. If he has to use a chat, have him use an educational one where the emphasis is on learning a skill, not socializing, as these are less directed towards "who" and more towards "to", "when" and "why" (le 5 W - Who What Where When Why? Who How Where When Why?).
Stop Your Child's Computer Addiction Step 4Bullet1
Step 5. Some kids go through phases where they love chats, then they lose interest and move on to more educational sites like programming, history, cooking, etc
These "not" should worry you in most cases.
Step 6. Set a limit on the amount of time your child can spend on the computer each day
In reality, however, time limits rarely work due to the stresses of modern life. As the child grows, he will figure it out for himself in most cases.
- First of all, give your child the time limit and see if he is able to stick to it on his own. It probably won't work, to be realistic.
- If he can't control his time on the computer himself (which, if his addiction is serious, is probably the case) he starts using a timer. When the timer goes off, your child has to disconnect from the computer. However, some guys find for themselves that an activity gets boring after a while; the same goes for the computer.
- Set a time limit for yourself to set a good example. If your child sees that you have rules too, he or she will be more willing to follow them too.
Step 7. Be aware of what your child is doing on the computer
Check your internet browsing history to see which sites you have visited, or install software to monitor the programs you use. See below why you "don't" use monitoring programs.
Step 8. Monitoring programs are questionable, if only for the privacy of "other individuals and guests" who use the computer, so don't use them if possible (also because crafty users and guests sometimes uninstall them themselves
Furthermore, they are considered an invasion of privacy. To learn more you can read Issues For the Nineties: Privacy and the in-depth Issues: Privacy Rights by Craig Donnellan).
Step 9. Buy or download a program that restricts computer use
Parents often find it difficult to impose time limits because their children rebel. If necessary, buy software that will force them to abide by the limits or that can block the use of the computer. With some of these programs, parents need to take decisive action to add time rather than to remove or reduce it. This shouldn't be done with older kids. In particular, children over 20 find this rather inconvenient. "* Warning:" Windows 7 and newer systems allow you to set time limits to control when a certain profile can be used.
Step 10. There are also programs that allow the child to "buy time" on certain sites chosen by the parents, for example popular social networking sites
The boy gains time by correctly answering educational (math) questions appropriate for his age. When the boy has run out of time he can no longer use the site until he decides to buy more time.
Step 11. Replace the time your child normally spends on the computer with other activities - play board games, go to the library, meet friends to play sports with, etc
Addictions are hard to break, and it's even more difficult when the guy has nothing to do. However, some young people are simply lonely or unsociable, so they use computers as a substitute for social contact.
Step 12. Give your child extra chores or take away other privileges if he continues to overuse the computer
However, overuse of the computer can naturally end when the individual decides it has become boring, as with any other activity.
Step 13. Warn your child that if they cannot control their computer time, you will have to take it away completely
However the threats Not they should be used.
Step 14. Heed your warning, and take away the computer
If your child has his or her own computer, unplug the power cord and put it somewhere your child won't be able to get it without you finding out. Unfortunately, a lot of guys get around this trick anyway, and a lot of computers are shared these days.
If you have more than one computer, you may need to monitor them to make sure your child isn't using them secretly. Look at your internet history to see if there are any websites you've never visited (and often the cause is viruses, not an individual: it's pc hijacking, a separate topic). You can also install a monitoring program, which will record all activities on your computer. These programs however Not they should be used, for privacy and security reasons.
Advice
- Be aware that your internet history can be cleared. The easiest method is to completely erase the history. However, this can also be done to clean up disk space, not for privacy, so don't think about the worst right away. Some erasing utilities make it possible to recover this file, known as index.dat in Internet Explorer.
- (Remember that he may have done this for no underhanded reason - monitoring programs sometimes slow down the computer, and your child may have just thought about freeing up virtual memory while playing.)
Warnings
- Don't let your child take the place of computer time watching TV or playing video games - this kind of entertainment can also be addictive. However, TV addiction is "benign" by comparison.
- Your child may react with anger when you try to break their addiction - be prepared for mood swings.
Note
- Remember, there is still a lot of interesting content to read on the internet.
- When someone is new to the internet, they will inevitably make mistakes. They are life experiences. If your child makes a mistake online, let it pass. Sometimes guys don't have the skill to use chat rooms and they lose interest quickly. Let him make mistakes.
- If your child wants to meet a public figure (e.g. a local celebrity, TV personality, pop star, radio presenter, etc.) live, he will almost always be safe, as public figures can be easily verified. Also, they have email addresses verifiable who prove their identity - eg. [email protected], rather than a general [email protected].
