My six year old has discovered computer games and is obsessed. He cries when he can't play them. I just don't know what to do about this, so I thought I'd ask for advice here where I might find some like-minded people.
Here's the background. We are tv-free but the older kids do watch a two or three dvds a month. The kids have never really spent time on a computer, but I spend too much time here. Anyway, one rainy day not long ago I logged onto starfall, a reading website, to give him something fun to do while I tended to something that required my full attention. Starfall led to funbrain led to popsomething and before the week was out my piano playing, jump rope jumping, lego and playdo fanatic was spending every free moment hunched over the keyboard.
I've tried setting limits, but he sometimes sneaks off to get online when he has the chance. I just hate having this flashpoint with him--he's such a great boy and engaged by so many things that I've never really had to monitor him or limit him in this way before.
Does anyone have any insight for me?
I'm looking for similar posts in the parenting section but I thought I'd ask here since I see this as closely related to being tv free.
Thank you for any help or advice.
Here's the background. We are tv-free but the older kids do watch a two or three dvds a month. The kids have never really spent time on a computer, but I spend too much time here. Anyway, one rainy day not long ago I logged onto starfall, a reading website, to give him something fun to do while I tended to something that required my full attention. Starfall led to funbrain led to popsomething and before the week was out my piano playing, jump rope jumping, lego and playdo fanatic was spending every free moment hunched over the keyboard.
I've tried setting limits, but he sometimes sneaks off to get online when he has the chance. I just hate having this flashpoint with him--he's such a great boy and engaged by so many things that I've never really had to monitor him or limit him in this way before.
Does anyone have any insight for me?
I'm looking for similar posts in the parenting section but I thought I'd ask here since I see this as closely related to being tv free.
Thank you for any help or advice.
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