choices and limitations
[email protected]
x
<< If a child has 20 new computer games to play, they're not going to
willingly leave the computer, no matter how tired they get of it. >>
If they have a hundred games, they will still leave the computer willingly.
I've never seen a child say "I'm really tired of this fun thing, but I'm
going to force myself to keep playing it anyway."
<<Computer game time is not limited, but we only keep maybe two games at any
one time, so when they get tired of those they leave the computer by their
own choice. >>
Do you only keep two books in the house too? Two movies? Because we've
always had lots of all of those, and the kids don't spend their whole lives
at any one thing, or any two things.
Sandra
<< If a child has 20 new computer games to play, they're not going to
willingly leave the computer, no matter how tired they get of it. >>
If they have a hundred games, they will still leave the computer willingly.
I've never seen a child say "I'm really tired of this fun thing, but I'm
going to force myself to keep playing it anyway."
<<Computer game time is not limited, but we only keep maybe two games at any
one time, so when they get tired of those they leave the computer by their
own choice. >>
Do you only keep two books in the house too? Two movies? Because we've
always had lots of all of those, and the kids don't spend their whole lives
at any one thing, or any two things.
Sandra
Myranda
If they have a hundred games, they will still leave the computer willingly.
I've never seen a child say "I'm really tired of this fun thing, but I'm
going to force myself to keep playing it anyway."
**I have. Many times. I've even done it myself.
Do you only keep two books in the house too? Two movies? Because we've
always had lots of all of those, and the kids don't spend their whole lives
at any one thing, or any two things.
Sandra
** Nope, lots of books and they're never without one. Movies.... well, we have an extensive Disney collection that was gifts from grandma's before our oldest turned one, but otherwise we just check out one at a time from the library. Usually that one doesn't even get watched. To me though, books and movies don't compare with the computer one bit. My kids will run, jump, get up and move somewhere else (outside, kitchen table), etc while reading, and will usually be playing with toys or reading or eating while watching movies or TV. The computer though, one has to sit still and usually keep hands on the mouse or keyboard, has to sit in a chair and cannot really do anything else at the same time. Big difference.
Myranda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I've never seen a child say "I'm really tired of this fun thing, but I'm
going to force myself to keep playing it anyway."
**I have. Many times. I've even done it myself.
Do you only keep two books in the house too? Two movies? Because we've
always had lots of all of those, and the kids don't spend their whole lives
at any one thing, or any two things.
Sandra
** Nope, lots of books and they're never without one. Movies.... well, we have an extensive Disney collection that was gifts from grandma's before our oldest turned one, but otherwise we just check out one at a time from the library. Usually that one doesn't even get watched. To me though, books and movies don't compare with the computer one bit. My kids will run, jump, get up and move somewhere else (outside, kitchen table), etc while reading, and will usually be playing with toys or reading or eating while watching movies or TV. The computer though, one has to sit still and usually keep hands on the mouse or keyboard, has to sit in a chair and cannot really do anything else at the same time. Big difference.
Myranda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
On Sun, 20 Oct 2002 19:52:47 -0400 "Myranda" <myrandab@...>
writes:
and jumping while reading.
While playing the computer, though, I manage to eat, drink, watch TV,
carry on conversations, talk on the phone, write stuff down, and
sometimes even juggle a baby.
Dar
writes:
> . My kids will run, jump, get up and move somewhereI have a hard time just walking while reading - I can't imagine running
> else (outside, kitchen table), etc while reading, and will usually
> be playing with toys or reading or eating while watching movies or
> TV. The computer though, one has to sit still and usually keep hands
> on the mouse or keyboard, has to sit in a chair and cannot really do
> anything else at the same time. Big difference.
and jumping while reading.
While playing the computer, though, I manage to eat, drink, watch TV,
carry on conversations, talk on the phone, write stuff down, and
sometimes even juggle a baby.
Dar
Myranda
I have a hard time just walking while reading - I can't imagine running
and jumping while reading.
** Well, I couldn't swear as to how much actually gets read <g>, but my oldest does seem to finish at least two small chapter books a day doing all that. Tells me all about them, too, so I know he's read at least enough to get the story line and ending.
While playing the computer, though, I manage to eat, drink, watch TV,
carry on conversations, talk on the phone, write stuff down, and
sometimes even juggle a baby.
Dar
** I do too. My kids don't. Neither do my friend's kids, or my 3 nieces.
Myranda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
and jumping while reading.
** Well, I couldn't swear as to how much actually gets read <g>, but my oldest does seem to finish at least two small chapter books a day doing all that. Tells me all about them, too, so I know he's read at least enough to get the story line and ending.
While playing the computer, though, I manage to eat, drink, watch TV,
carry on conversations, talk on the phone, write stuff down, and
sometimes even juggle a baby.
Dar
** I do too. My kids don't. Neither do my friend's kids, or my 3 nieces.
Myranda
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tia Leschke
>I can do it on the rebounder. <g> It's all in how you hold the book. Your
> I have a hard time just walking while reading - I can't imagine running
> and jumping while reading.
arms have to be glued to your body, so the book moves the same as your eyes.
(The only way I can stand to exercise!)
Tia
Pam Hartley
----------
They move around, run back and forth to tell me what they're doing, print
screens onto my printer, take turns, change games, go and play and leave the
poor computer, which BEGS them, "To pick song, click the animal you want!"
over and over and over again until they come back or I go shut off the
sound.
How do you know your friends kids and your nieces sit like devout computer
monks all the time, every time they switch on the computer? What happens
when they need a bathroom (I fear the answer, break it to me gently).
Maybe it has something to do with only having two games and/or limits on
computer time.
Pam, living with three gaming nuts and heaven knows how many computer games,
not to mention all the cool websites with games, who weirdly *aren't*
growing into their computers like something out of that Dean Koontz novel
>From: [email protected]My children are clearly mutants. I always suspected.
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2513
>Date: Sun, Oct 20, 2002, 9:01 PM
>
> ** I do too. My kids don't. Neither do my friend's kids, or my 3 nieces.
They move around, run back and forth to tell me what they're doing, print
screens onto my printer, take turns, change games, go and play and leave the
poor computer, which BEGS them, "To pick song, click the animal you want!"
over and over and over again until they come back or I go shut off the
sound.
How do you know your friends kids and your nieces sit like devout computer
monks all the time, every time they switch on the computer? What happens
when they need a bathroom (I fear the answer, break it to me gently).
Maybe it has something to do with only having two games and/or limits on
computer time.
Pam, living with three gaming nuts and heaven knows how many computer games,
not to mention all the cool websites with games, who weirdly *aren't*
growing into their computers like something out of that Dean Koontz novel
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/20/02 8:24:18 PM Central Daylight Time,
myrandab@... writes:
Aunt Renee' sent, you can bet my kids aren't totally glued to their seats,
never moving. Jack sits on his knees and bounces, the more he bounces, the
better the game. Bouncing also helps him in his frequent takeoffs. He bounces
up, runs to me to tell me all about the newest cool level with the gorgozon
flimflack eater that he just defeated and and and.... Moly sits with one foot
on the floor and one under her, I think this is to propel herself up to get a
running start on her brother to tell me that it was really SHE that defeated
the gorgozon cause she discovered the special amulet.... Then they are off to
use another color printer cartridge on a picture they just have to have to
show Dad, *why oh why can't they just put it in their favorite places?* and
Grandpa and Aunt Renee' haven't gotten emails yet (this hour) so its back to
the keyboard with cookies and oops we forgot to ride our bikes around the
block three hundred times at breakneck speed. All the while, somewhere in the
back ground the loons are calling on Sim Park and a ranger is telling some
errant ranger that *You'd better take care of your animals ranger...* I think
I will go check that one out. <g>
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
myrandab@... writes:
> ** I do too. My kids don't. Neither do my friend's kids, or my 3 nieces.Even if it is the bestest newestest game, web site, picture maker, something
> Myranda
Aunt Renee' sent, you can bet my kids aren't totally glued to their seats,
never moving. Jack sits on his knees and bounces, the more he bounces, the
better the game. Bouncing also helps him in his frequent takeoffs. He bounces
up, runs to me to tell me all about the newest cool level with the gorgozon
flimflack eater that he just defeated and and and.... Moly sits with one foot
on the floor and one under her, I think this is to propel herself up to get a
running start on her brother to tell me that it was really SHE that defeated
the gorgozon cause she discovered the special amulet.... Then they are off to
use another color printer cartridge on a picture they just have to have to
show Dad, *why oh why can't they just put it in their favorite places?* and
Grandpa and Aunt Renee' haven't gotten emails yet (this hour) so its back to
the keyboard with cookies and oops we forgot to ride our bikes around the
block three hundred times at breakneck speed. All the while, somewhere in the
back ground the loons are calling on Sim Park and a ranger is telling some
errant ranger that *You'd better take care of your animals ranger...* I think
I will go check that one out. <g>
~Nancy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Deborah Lewis
On Sun, 20 Oct 2002 21:21:38 -0700 Pam Hartley
<pamhartley@...> writes:
to remove the chair entirely, place the tumbling mat on the floor and
practice backward break falls while e-mailing friends, or collapse
dramatically from enemy laser fire during a game.
zombified humputers here either.
Deb L
<pamhartley@...> writes:
> My children are clearly mutants. I always suspected.My son must be too. The current method of computer operation (MCO) is
to remove the chair entirely, place the tumbling mat on the floor and
practice backward break falls while e-mailing friends, or collapse
dramatically from enemy laser fire during a game.
> Pam, living with three gaming nuts and heaven knows how manyOooh, yes I read that one (Midnight?) We have no such drooling,
> computer games,
> not to mention all the cool websites with games, who weirdly
> *aren't*
> growing into their computers like something out of that Dean Koontz
> novel
zombified humputers here either.
Deb L
Myranda
From: Pam Hartley
My children are clearly mutants. I always suspected.
They move around, run back and forth to tell me what they're doing, print
screens onto my printer, take turns, change games, go and play and leave the
poor computer, which BEGS them, "To pick song, click the animal you want!"
over and over and over again until they come back or I go shut off the
sound.
**LOL One of my most peaceful weeks came when our TV broke and the computer speakers quit working right back-to-back!!!
How do you know your friends kids and your nieces sit like devout computer
monks all the time, every time they switch on the computer? What happens
when they need a bathroom (I fear the answer, break it to me gently).
** My friends kids, because they told me so. My three nieces, because they lived with us for a pretty long while. I had three computers, and they were on them from the time they woke up til the time they went to bed. That didn't really bother me because it kept them from their other favorite passtimes - smoking, shoplifting, and ruining my pots and pans. Bathroom breaks are usually done as fast as possible (pants going down on the way to, and pulling up on the way back). My youngest son will actually go in his pants if I don't tell him to go when he starts squirming around. Meals? They'd skip if I let them.
Maybe it has something to do with only having two games and/or limits on
computer time.
** No, that 2 game limit came about as a way to deal with all the time spent at the computer, and it's worked nicely. Not even an objection from the boys - they just happily went and found other things to do.
Myranda
Pam, living with three gaming nuts and heaven knows how many computer games,
not to mention all the cool websites with games, who weirdly *aren't*
growing into their computers like something out of that Dean Koontz novel
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My children are clearly mutants. I always suspected.
They move around, run back and forth to tell me what they're doing, print
screens onto my printer, take turns, change games, go and play and leave the
poor computer, which BEGS them, "To pick song, click the animal you want!"
over and over and over again until they come back or I go shut off the
sound.
**LOL One of my most peaceful weeks came when our TV broke and the computer speakers quit working right back-to-back!!!
How do you know your friends kids and your nieces sit like devout computer
monks all the time, every time they switch on the computer? What happens
when they need a bathroom (I fear the answer, break it to me gently).
** My friends kids, because they told me so. My three nieces, because they lived with us for a pretty long while. I had three computers, and they were on them from the time they woke up til the time they went to bed. That didn't really bother me because it kept them from their other favorite passtimes - smoking, shoplifting, and ruining my pots and pans. Bathroom breaks are usually done as fast as possible (pants going down on the way to, and pulling up on the way back). My youngest son will actually go in his pants if I don't tell him to go when he starts squirming around. Meals? They'd skip if I let them.
Maybe it has something to do with only having two games and/or limits on
computer time.
** No, that 2 game limit came about as a way to deal with all the time spent at the computer, and it's worked nicely. Not even an objection from the boys - they just happily went and found other things to do.
Myranda
Pam, living with three gaming nuts and heaven knows how many computer games,
not to mention all the cool websites with games, who weirdly *aren't*
growing into their computers like something out of that Dean Koontz novel
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
<<Computer game time is not limited, but we only keep maybe two games at
any
one time, so when they get tired of those they leave the computer by
their
own choice. >>
You'll never know if they will regulate themselves (they will) until they
TRULY have the freedom to choose. If you are withholding choices then
they are not free to choose, you are still controlling the activity.
Kids know when they are being controlled and besides the damge it does to
their relationship with you, it usually translates to an obsession with
the activity. I would probably become obsessed with something that was
being controlled for me, look at how much people were willing to go
through to get alcohol during prohibition.
Beyond all this, how can a parent know what will feed a lifelong passion
for their child? If I limit my child's choices in computer games I may
leave out something that will be there at the right time for them. My
daughter, Lanora - 12, is passionate about rock climbing and the thing
that sparked that passion was climbing up the walls in the hallway. If I
had said, "You may not climb up the walls, they get dirty." she would
probably have missed the spark for an interest that still burns now.
Kris
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any
one time, so when they get tired of those they leave the computer by
their
own choice. >>
You'll never know if they will regulate themselves (they will) until they
TRULY have the freedom to choose. If you are withholding choices then
they are not free to choose, you are still controlling the activity.
Kids know when they are being controlled and besides the damge it does to
their relationship with you, it usually translates to an obsession with
the activity. I would probably become obsessed with something that was
being controlled for me, look at how much people were willing to go
through to get alcohol during prohibition.
Beyond all this, how can a parent know what will feed a lifelong passion
for their child? If I limit my child's choices in computer games I may
leave out something that will be there at the right time for them. My
daughter, Lanora - 12, is passionate about rock climbing and the thing
that sparked that passion was climbing up the walls in the hallway. If I
had said, "You may not climb up the walls, they get dirty." she would
probably have missed the spark for an interest that still burns now.
Kris
________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
Only $9.95 per month!
Visit www.juno.com