Class Action: Computer Addiction
Offering alternatives is the way to break computer addiction
At this stage, it's a question of how bad your son's computer addiction is. Is it something you as a parent can try and control, or do you need a counsellor to hold sessions with the family to help your son cope without a computer? I know that sounds shocking, but it is becoming a very real issue for many families, especially in Asia, where our lifestyles are more based on indoor activities and high internet usage.
Many of my friends insisted before their babies were born that their prospective son or daughter would never be stuck in front of the television for hours on end.
But children are entertained by the television from a young age; it becomes a part of their lives. So the leap to a computer isn't a big one. But within the family there are, of course, many other joint activities you could do. Take him out for walks, and get him involved in the neighbourhood. For example, do you live near parkland or the countryside, where he can observe the different plants and trees and wildlife?
As a parent, ask what example you are setting and whether you provide him with other activities. Are you playing computer games on the sly? Is he copying you and is his sister copying him in turn? Even if he isn't, what are the other options during his free time?
Babies focus on language to extend their social interests. They are keen to interact with big people making funny noises. They coo and you smile, and they coo again. It is a simple cycle of rewards generating the action. It is the same for your son, who is looking for social interaction. If he doesn't find it in the home, he plays games and brags about his score to his friends the next day, getting a social reward.
As much as you find yourself struggling for time, it is the time you give him that will slowly tempt him away. Find some card or board games your daughter can play and make it a fun experience. Give him an invite to join in at any time. Don't give up. At the very least you are helping to prevent your daughter from slipping down the same slope.