About the Influence of Computers on Children

Computer Use and a Child's Physical Well-Being

• It doesn't matter if a child is using the computer for learning or for fun. Excessive screen time is hazardous to a child's health. The greatest physical risk of extensive computer use is eyestrain. According to Dr. John Jacobi, eye doctors are seeing a "humongous increase in the need for both vision therapy and occupational therapy because two-dimensional visual experience without related motor experience doesn't set the necessary base."

  Staring at a bright computer screen for hours on end can cause nearsightedness, blurred vision and a problem focusing. In turn, this can affect a child's ability and even desire to read. Eye problems resulting from prolonged computer usage hit children harder than adults because children are still developing physically.

  Secondary computer-related health risks include poor posture, eyestrain, obesity, and repetitive-stress injuries, which have the potential to damage muscles, tendons and nerves in the hands, arms, neck and shoulders.

Computer Use and Developmental Problems

• Too much time in front of the computer screen can hinder a child's ability to synchronize his visual sense with actual movements, which can in turn cause development delays. Children who spend too much time alone with their computer lack important social skills, are more easily frustrated and have a tendency to be more aggressive than children who spend less than an hour a day in front of the computer.

Computers vs. Active Play

• Perhaps the greatest concern about the overuse of computers in homes and in schools is that it interferes with a child's active playtime. Active play is necessary for overall physical health and greatly reduces the risk of childhood obesity. There is mounting evidence that links the reduction of active play with a series of mental disorders, including depression, as active play provides a way for a child to relieve unneeded stress.

Computers as Learning Tools

• When used in moderation, computers are still useful tools for learning. Since the advent of computers, students' nonverbal intelligence scores on tests like the Raven Progressive Matrices have greatly increased. Computers help kids better understand visual images like diagrams, graphs and grids.

  Thanks to the Internet, kids are writing more than ever. For the first time, children are spending time writing elaborate reviews of video games and movies. These activities advance essay-writing skills and teach kids how to write for a specific audience.

Practice Computer Safety

• To make sure computers are helping and not harming your children, reduce glare on the computer, make sure the computer supplements learning, and don't forget to install child safety software so children don't stumble across dangerous, pornographic or adult-oriented websites. A computer is a useful tool only when used in moderation.