Computer Use
thesixjgs
I'm new to the group. I have been unschooling my boys 7 and 5. I
have a friend who has unschooled for many years, who recommended this
list to me because I kept calling her with concerns about my boys
watching TV, playing play station and computer games sooooo much (in
my opinion.) I feel really worried about it!! We are about to move
and we have decided not to have cable or play station move with us.
I would really like to understand what exactly it means in
unschooling to say; as long as the are provided other opportunities
and you are available to them. When they are playing computer much
of the day and then making up games together, I'm busy reading the
list, doing laundry, nursing the baby,ect... Unless they ask me for
help with a dispute or how to make the guy jump on the computer game
I'm not around. Is this okay? Sometimes I see how unschooling
works; for instance they were playing a Hercules game yesterday, on
the game they ask questions about what happened in real Greek myths.
The game doesn't answer these questions. They kept asking me to
help, I didn't know the answers so I asked them if they would like
to go to the library and get a book about the Greek myths, they
responded excitedly YES!! At these times I think whew this is
leading somewhere educational. I also see the point that one person
on the list was talking about pertaining to the child getting to the
next level. It would be frustrating to me if someone came in and
told me to stop doing something when I was right in the middle of it
and I was really invested in finishing it. I would really like input
from you veteran unschoolers about these issues. TV especially
concerns me it is so addictive. I also see a change in their
behavior after watching TV. We have talked about it, one of the boys
sees the change and how he feels after TV viewing the other doesn't
see it. I have another friend who is unschooling little guys, she
doesn't have TV and lives in the country, when we visit her our boys
play outside all day happily and creatively. Her kids seem more
creative then mine. What have you found works for your families?
Jenn
have a friend who has unschooled for many years, who recommended this
list to me because I kept calling her with concerns about my boys
watching TV, playing play station and computer games sooooo much (in
my opinion.) I feel really worried about it!! We are about to move
and we have decided not to have cable or play station move with us.
I would really like to understand what exactly it means in
unschooling to say; as long as the are provided other opportunities
and you are available to them. When they are playing computer much
of the day and then making up games together, I'm busy reading the
list, doing laundry, nursing the baby,ect... Unless they ask me for
help with a dispute or how to make the guy jump on the computer game
I'm not around. Is this okay? Sometimes I see how unschooling
works; for instance they were playing a Hercules game yesterday, on
the game they ask questions about what happened in real Greek myths.
The game doesn't answer these questions. They kept asking me to
help, I didn't know the answers so I asked them if they would like
to go to the library and get a book about the Greek myths, they
responded excitedly YES!! At these times I think whew this is
leading somewhere educational. I also see the point that one person
on the list was talking about pertaining to the child getting to the
next level. It would be frustrating to me if someone came in and
told me to stop doing something when I was right in the middle of it
and I was really invested in finishing it. I would really like input
from you veteran unschoolers about these issues. TV especially
concerns me it is so addictive. I also see a change in their
behavior after watching TV. We have talked about it, one of the boys
sees the change and how he feels after TV viewing the other doesn't
see it. I have another friend who is unschooling little guys, she
doesn't have TV and lives in the country, when we visit her our boys
play outside all day happily and creatively. Her kids seem more
creative then mine. What have you found works for your families?
Jenn
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/22/02 3:50:47 PM, gaunttmail@... writes:
<< At these times I think whew this is
leading somewhere educational. >>
The games themselves are educational even if they don't answer all the
questions.
<<We are about to move
and we have decided not to have cable or play station move with us. >>
If you're sure, another homeschooling family here really wants to buy a used
playstation.
If you go to www.unschooling.com you can read lots of already-deposited
discussion about the benefits of computer games and video and movies.
We don't have cable, but we have a TV in every kid's room (two with VCRs) and
we don't limit their use. And they're off more than not, by kids' own doing.
Sandra
<< At these times I think whew this is
leading somewhere educational. >>
The games themselves are educational even if they don't answer all the
questions.
<<We are about to move
and we have decided not to have cable or play station move with us. >>
If you're sure, another homeschooling family here really wants to buy a used
playstation.
If you go to www.unschooling.com you can read lots of already-deposited
discussion about the benefits of computer games and video and movies.
We don't have cable, but we have a TV in every kid's room (two with VCRs) and
we don't limit their use. And they're off more than not, by kids' own doing.
Sandra