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There was this article about how kids have been spending so much time online during the pandemic. No surprise there. Thet told about a father being upset that he couldn't pry his son away from his phone. Maybe no surprise there, either.
But what lost my sympathy was when the father said that the boy really had no other interests in life apart from sports with friends. And I thought: While he was growing up, did it ever occur to you to buy him books, teach him chess, subscribe to a science magazine for him, have him take music lessons, give him art supplies, teach him household skills?
There was this article about how kids have been spending so much time online during the pandemic. No surprise there. They told about a father being upset that he couldn't pry his son away from his phone. Maybe no surprise there, either.
But what lost my sympathy was when the father said that the boy really had no other interests in life apart from sports with friends. And I thought: While he was growing up, did it ever occur to you to buy him books, teach him chess, subscribe to a science magazine for him, have him take music lessons, give him art supplies, teach him household skills?
You can't assume that a child whose main interests are sports and screen time wasn't exposed to books, games, science, music, art, or chores. Phones and computers are very seductive time-suckers. If the choices are to read a book, practice an instrument, or surf the Internet--which do many adults these days choose to do?
Unfortunately for a young kid TV and games on the phone can overpower sitting down with a book. I still read to my kids every night but if they had the choice they'd rather watch TV. They are almost 5 and 7. One thing they do love to do is color...they have chosen that over screens. Screens are just addicting...for everyone not just kids.
There was this article about how kids have been spending so much time online during the pandemic. No surprise there. Thet told about a father being upset that he couldn't pry his son away from his phone. Maybe no surprise there, either.
But what lost my sympathy was when the father said that the boy really had no other interests in life apart from sports with friends. And I thought: While he was growing up, did it ever occur to you to buy him books, teach him chess, subscribe to a science magazine for him, have him take music lessons, give him art supplies, teach him household skills?
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But what lost my sympathy was when the father said that the boy really had no other interests in life apart from sports with friends. And I thought: While he was growing up, did it ever occur to you to buy him books, teach him chess, subscribe to a science magazine for him, have him take music lessons, give him art supplies, teach him household skills?
Why are you assuming the parent hasn't attempted these things? Some kids are just not interested in books, art supplies, music lessons and ESPECIALLY chess. You can't make a statement like that as if a passion for such things is universal among all children.
Why are you assuming the parent hasn't attempted these things? Some kids are just not interested in books, art supplies, music lessons and ESPECIALLY chess. You can't make a statement like that as if a passion for such things is universal among all children.
My son is a two-time state chess champion with a USCF National Master title, and he teaches chess at 4 public schools and has a couple dozen private students. There are a LOT of kids who enjoy chess, and it teaches them the same sportsmanship skills that sports do, without the complication of biased refereeing.
It's certainly not for everyone as it requires a tremendous amount of patience and concentration to learn how to do more than just how to move the pieces, but to say "ESPECIALLY chess" is misguided. Go to a regional scholastic tournament sometime and see how many kids are playing, You'd be surprised.
Parents these days don't seem to teach their kids much. They just entertain them
Big generalization. I think we older folks should withhold judgement about parents. We’ve done our job. We don’t have to be judge and jury for a generation.
You can't assume that a child whose main interests are sports and screen time wasn't exposed to books, games, science, music, art, or chores. Phones and computers are very seductive time-suckers. If the choices are to read a book, practice an instrument, or surf the Internet--which do many adults these days choose to do?
Maybe, but, first, I see nothing from the father's comments that indicates that he ever urged non-sports activities, and, second, I do know adults who use the internet AND also have reading and music interests.
Quote:
Originally Posted by msRB311
Unfortunately for a young kid TV and games on the phone can overpower sitting down with a book. I still read to my kids every night but if they had the choice they'd rather watch TV. They are almost 5 and 7. One thing they do love to do is color...they have chosen that over screens. Screens are just addicting...for everyone not just kids.
I agree, which is why it's a reasonable idea to limit screen time. I think that in the 1960s or 1970s parents limited TV time.
As far as “guiding” our children’s interests, the only thing we do is to keep them off screens. What they choose to do beyond that is up to them: if you like it, do it.
Maybe, but, first, I see nothing from the father's comments that indicates that he ever urged non-sports activities, and, second, I do know adults who use the internet AND also have reading and music interests.
I agree, which is why it's a reasonable idea to limit screen time. I think that in the 1960s or 1970s parents limited TV time.
But, this life changing and unexpected unprecedented event aside, there is no reason why the father would believe his child would be locked in the house for a year unable to play sports with his friends. 10..20..30...40 years ago, a hobby of playing sports would have been a perfectly acceptable hobby, even if it was the only one. It has little to nothing to do with screens. In fact, some people dont have any hobbies other than computers or games.
And a lot of super athletic people who enjoy the physicality of sports are not going to be satisfied with playing chess or painting a picture or reading a book
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