| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | to the lounge after the parents had gone to bed, |
| It can be difficult for parents to restrict their child's | | | | and reveled away on the computer all night long. The |
| use of the computer. However, for many parents | | | | parents only began to suspect something when they |
| this has become an unavoidable eventuality, as | | | | found the child one morning in the lounge snoring |
| computers have intruded to such a degree into the | | | | away with his head on the desk. |
| lives of children, that far too many youngsters are | | | | Another source told me how they'd made a verbal |
| spending an unhealthy amount of time behind them. | | | | agreement with their child in order to restrict his |
| The word 'unhealthy', supposes a negative influence | | | | computer use. It was made on Sunday morning, and |
| on your child's physical and mental/social | | | | by Sunday lunch time the child had already broken |
| development. Physical problems include a bad posture | | | | the agreement, citing 'aggressive monster beheading' |
| due to a poor sitting position, or deteriorating | | | | withdrawal symptoms as the grounds for his |
| eyesight due to too much time spent looking at the | | | | transgression. |
| screen. Mental/social problems include a feeling of | | | | I do know of a considerably more effective way to |
| alienation from the real world, and less opportunity to | | | | restrict your child on the computer. This method is |
| develop real life social skills. | | | | sneaky-safe, and does not take withdrawal |
| When parents first bring up the subject, that they | | | | symptoms as an excuse. It is a computer control |
| intend to restrict when their child can use the | | | | program called Chronoger; written by the acclaimed |
| computer, it is vital that the child is in a calm mood, | | | | software development company SoftForYou. |
| and that he or she does not have ready access to a | | | | Inherent in the program is everything that you will |
| blunt instrument. The computer might well be your | | | | need to restrict not only when your child can use the |
| child's best friend in life, and any suggestion about | | | | computer, but how he or she can use it too; when |
| cutting short the supply of the daily drip feed of | | | | for doing homework, and when for entertainment. |
| games, chat rooms, and web surfing could lead to | | | | By installing the program onto your child's computer, |
| wild and fervent behavior from your offspring. | | | | you will be able to select for each day of the week |
| Calm and empty handed, your child is being made | | | | when and how long your child can use the Internet, |
| aware that you intend to restrict their use of the | | | | play games, enter chat programs, and use the |
| computer starting from tomorrow. You know your | | | | computer as a whole. Your child will not be able to |
| child spends too much time on it. Perhaps your child | | | | change these settings, which are protected by an |
| comes home from school, buries him or her self in | | | | administrator (parent) password. |
| the bedroom, and instantly goes on the computer for | | | | One of the best thing about it is that you hardly |
| a few hours. Perhaps he or she just uses it for a | | | | even have to know anything about computers to |
| couple of hours a day, the session which begins 5 | | | | use the program. It is very user friendly, and simple |
| minutes after their bedtime. However your child | | | | to navigate around. If you do come across a |
| misuses the computer, you have to choose the best | | | | problem, as part of the package you can contact the |
| way to restrict their use. The scenarios are | | | | support center and get any assistance that you |
| numerous, but effective solutions harder to come by. | | | | require. |
| One family told me how they recently took the | | | | This program means that you can leave the |
| computer out of their son's bedroom, and put it into | | | | computer in your child's room, and know that they |
| the sitting room, from where they could more easily | | | | are using it when and how you would want. Also it |
| restrict its use. Unfortunately however, with a streak | | | | means that you can dispense with verbal agreements |
| of sneakiness not unknown to generations of | | | | of dubious significance and lasting. |
| teenagers beforehand, their son would tiptoe down | | | | |