Dawn Falbe

Hi All:

Decided it was time to ask the group about an issue I'm having with Zak (6)
and the computer. He has tons of cd's, reading, history, languages,
puzzles, math etc and we recently bought his a "Lego Racers" game. Now he's
always played these other games in moderation. He'll play for 1 hour
sometimes less and then move onto something else... So this is the issue...
as we are working on being as radical unschoolers as possible he has
unlimited time to do anything. Today he spent 5 hours playing Lego
Racers!!!!... I finally asked him to come to the kitchen at 3pm for some
pizza with the rest of the family. He has now gone outside to play with Max
(2.5) and DH, who worked from home today....

So....the question.... Should I monitor how much time he spends playing the
Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does anything
else? Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer if he
wants and see what happens? I would love some feedback from those of you
that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise.

Thanks
Dawn


********************
Dawn Falbe
Astrologer Coach
(520) 312-5300
********************
www.astrologerdawn.com
dawn@...
Enlightening you on how to discover and live your Soul Purpose

"The people who get on in this world are people who get up and look for the
circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George
Bernard Shaw

"The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school" -
George Bernard Shaw



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/11/02 5:52:10 PM, dawn@... writes:

<< So....the question.... Should I monitor how much time he spends playing
the
Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does anything
else? Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer if he
wants and see what happens? I would love some feedback from those of you
that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise. >>

Nick has, on occasion, spent all day....all day...playing a computer game.
Goes in phases. He's still a literate, insightful, able to converse with
adults kind of kid ;-).

Now -- if he were playing all day and getting glassy-eyed and whining and not
eating and being snarky with family members, I'd nudge him to do something
else to break the mood.

Depends on your boy and who he is at the moment :-)

Trust your instincts and how he's behaving.

Sharon

Nancy Wooton

on 1/11/02 2:48 PM, Dawn Falbe at dawn@... wrote:

> we recently bought his a "Lego Racers" game.
<snip>
>Today he spent 5 hours playing Lego
> Racers!!!!...
<snip>
>Should I monitor how much time he spends playing the
> Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does anything
> else? Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer if he
> wants and see what happens? I would love some feedback from those of you
> that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
> thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise.

The key to your question is the word "recently." He will not play it
forever. He may seem like he will, but he won't. My kids get new Gameboy
games, play til you think their eyeballs will bleed and their thumbs fall
off... and then either complete the game or come up for air. They're 11 and
14 now, and so far have eyes and thumbs and no noticeable ill effects. They
are good at monitoring themselves.

I myself have been known to *read* for five hours straight; should someone
tell me to stop? I've spent even more time than that online... OK, bad
example <ggg>

Nancy


--
Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old
woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.
- - Dorothy L. Sayers

[email protected]

In a message dated 1/11/02 3:52:14 PM, dawn@... writes:

<< Should I monitor how much time he spends playing the
Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does anything
else? >>

Yes.

<<Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer if he
wants and see what happens? >>

Yes.

<<I would love some feedback from those of you
that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise.>>

Sandra, much experience

Shyrley

Dawn Falbe wrote:

> Hi All:
>
> Decided it was time to ask the group about an issue I'm having with
> Zak (6)
> and the computer. He has tons of cd's, reading, history, languages,
> puzzles, math etc and we recently bought his a "Lego Racers" game.
> Now he's
> always played these other games in moderation. He'll play for 1 hour
> sometimes less and then move onto something else... So this is the
> issue...
> as we are working on being as radical unschoolers as possible he has
> unlimited time to do anything. Today he spent 5 hours playing Lego
> Racers!!!!... I finally asked him to come to the kitchen at 3pm for
> some
> pizza with the rest of the family. He has now gone outside to play
> with Max
> (2.5) and DH, who worked from home today....

It must be a good game then. I spent four hours playing Return to Castle
Wolfenstein today.

>
>
> So....the question.... Should I monitor how much time he spends
> playing the
> Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does
> anything
> else? Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer
> if he
> wants and see what happens? I would love some feedback from those of
> you
> that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
> thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise.
>
> Thanks
> Dawn
>
>

My opinion is let it run it's course. When I let mine have unlimited
computer access they went nuts for about 3 weeks and played non-stop.
Now they play sometimes. Just like I do.
How would you feel if you substituted 'Math' or 'Violin' for computer
game.....eg. my son spent 5 hours doing math today. if he likes doing it
and gains pleasure it shouldn't really matter what it is.
I'm off to play more games meself. :)

Shyrley


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tia Leschke

>
>Decided it was time to ask the group about an issue I'm having with Zak (6)
>and the computer. He has tons of cd's, reading, history, languages,
>puzzles, math etc and we recently bought his a "Lego Racers" game. Now he's
>always played these other games in moderation. He'll play for 1 hour
>sometimes less and then move onto something else... So this is the issue...
>as we are working on being as radical unschoolers as possible he has
>unlimited time to do anything. Today he spent 5 hours playing Lego
>Racers!!!!... I finally asked him to come to the kitchen at 3pm for some
>pizza with the rest of the family. He has now gone outside to play with Max
>(2.5) and DH, who worked from home today....

I don't think that's an unusual amount of time to be playing a new
game. Lars has always binged on the computer any time we got him a new
game. After a week or so, the amount of time spent would gradually drop.
Tia

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island

micnico1

Dawn,

I usually do not respond but I had to let you know that we share a very common experience. My son is also 6 and was pretty much just like your son before and after he received Lego Racer. He would wake up at 4:00am with that game on his mind and play for hours on end. It took him about 2 months to completely master it and these days he has moved on and rarely do I hear that little lego racer tune coming from the computer room. By the way, have you ever tried to play it yourself? I have a very difficult time just staying on the track. My opinion is do not interfere because he is being challenged, that is what makes it so fun. Just let him get it out of his system and then he will move on like my son has. After all once you win first place every time it becomes a little boring. Oh-yeah, look out there is also a Lego Racer ll.

Nic
----- Original Message -----
From: Dawn Falbe
To: [email protected]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 2:48 PM
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] Need Feeback on a Computer Issue


Hi All:

Decided it was time to ask the group about an issue I'm having with Zak (6)
and the computer. He has tons of cd's, reading, history, languages,
puzzles, math etc and we recently bought his a "Lego Racers" game. Now he's
always played these other games in moderation. He'll play for 1 hour
sometimes less and then move onto something else... So this is the issue...
as we are working on being as radical unschoolers as possible he has
unlimited time to do anything. Today he spent 5 hours playing Lego
Racers!!!!... I finally asked him to come to the kitchen at 3pm for some
pizza with the rest of the family. He has now gone outside to play with Max
(2.5) and DH, who worked from home today....

So....the question.... Should I monitor how much time he spends playing the
Lego Racers program, when I don't monitor how much time he does anything
else? Should I just let him spend all day and night on the computer if he
wants and see what happens? I would love some feedback from those of you
that have had experience with this issue and the rest of you who have
thoughts about what you would do should this situation arise.

Thanks
Dawn


********************
Dawn Falbe
Astrologer Coach
(520) 312-5300
********************
www.astrologerdawn.com
dawn@...
Enlightening you on how to discover and live your Soul Purpose

"The people who get on in this world are people who get up and look for the
circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them." - George
Bernard Shaw

"The only time my education was interrupted was when I was in school" -
George Bernard Shaw



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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