Upon arriving home from school, two middle school boys dumped their backpacks by the front door and race each other to the basement, each determined to get hold of the "better" Playstation controller. Here they will sit for hours, dedicated to winning the game and oblivious to any other activity in the house that might pose as a distraction. One of the boys receives a call on his cell phone from his mother. Now dark out, he proceeds to walk home for dinner with a book bag full of homework yet to be completed, and a stomach full of junk food.
Across the street, a seven year old girl flops herself down in front of the television, pushes a few buttons on the remote, and becomes engaged in an episode of Spongebob on Nickelodeon. At the commercial break she becomes fixated on advertisements for the new Fruit Rollups, Cheeto's snack packs, and a Harry Potter based video game. Before the break is over, she has made a trip to the kitchen for a fistful of Oreos and a cup full of soda. With her older sister on the phone, she will remain in the same spot until her mother returns home from work and prepares dinner.
The average American child, ages two to eleven, watches television 1,197minutes per week. The same children spends only 38 minutes per week engaging in meaningful conversation with their parents. This trend only continues to develop, causing critical problems amongst today's youth. Not only are television and video games damaging, but computers as well--all allowing children to become lazy to a degree in which their mental and physical well being are at stake. .
It is true that technological advances with computers have proved to be tremendously beneficial worldwide. Though along with the perks of having a personal computer, come also the programs which do not assist in the cultivation of children's minds. Granted, there are countless programs which stimulate brain activity and promote learning.
