| Parents and educational institutions are fighting for | | | | the same time. |
| our children's future more than ever. Television and | | | | For example, there is Sudoku for children. Trying to |
| now video game consoles are playing a continuously | | | | solve 1-9 numbers on the adult version may be too |
| larger role in the lives of youth. | | | | trying but there is also one for youth where it is only |
| Today children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 spend an | | | | numbers 1-4. Sudoku has been known to sharpen |
| average of four hours in front of a TV screen and | | | | children's reasoning and computation skills. Most |
| an additional two in front of a computer screen | | | | importantly, it helps children identify patterns which |
| playing video games (kidshealth.org). Using electronics | | | | are one of the most important aspects in |
| to pass the time and as the only form of | | | | mathematics(math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org). |
| entertainment is becoming a global pandemic. No one | | | | Less mathematical but just as educational are brain |
| is saying that watching TV or being on the computer | | | | teaser puzzlers. These puzzles help children |
| is bad however there are statistics that ought to | | | | understand the concept of analytical thinking, logic, |
| give warning to parents. For example, students who | | | | and of course perseverance. Unless your child is a |
| spend more than four hours a day on TV are more | | | | genius, he or she most likely won't solve the puzzle |
| likely to be overweight and those who watch violent | | | | on the first go. That will make them have to |
| acts on the screen are much more likely to emulate | | | | constantly evaluate what moves they have already |
| that behavior. In addition to all this, children become | | | | done and try to think what path they should take |
| prey to vicious forms of advertisement where | | | | next. A great example of this is the "Star Puzzle". |
| experts say children lack the ability to critically | | | | This is an incredible popular puzzle where the player |
| analyze the ad they are watching and therefore buy | | | | has to fit together six interlocking pieces to form a |
| the ad scheme that is being sold (umext.maine.edu). | | | | star. |
| Finally, TV has the ability to distort reality and this is | | | | In conclusion, we cannot nor should we cut out |
| most present in violent shows. A UCLA report | | | | television and video games all together. However, it is |
| showed that perpetrators of violent acts go | | | | crucial that we allow our youth to have |
| unpunished 73 percent of the time and that 58 | | | | entertainment that enriches their skills and expands |
| percent of victims depict no pain when attacked | | | | their minds. These are the ages where their minds will |
| (turnoffyourtv.com)! | | | | be the most affected and influenced. So instead of |
| This fight for our children does not have to be lost. It | | | | sitting alone watching television, lets get them playing |
| is easily possible to provide our children with fun and | | | | educational brain teaser games together with their |
| entertainment while teaching them valuable skills at | | | | friends and family! |