Seems my son, has brought us into the world of Webkins and other electronic pets. He just celebrated his tenth birthday this week and one of his friends got him a Webkins virtual pet. Clearly, this mother doesn’t have an issue with loosing her children to electronic reality as much as I do, or she would never have done this. I may not see my son for weeks, besides to yell at him to finish his homework, and eat his dinner.
Hopefully, he will resurface in about a month, with little damage to his vision, and school work. It’s difficult to know how far to limit these somewhat educational toys. They supposedly teach responsibility and have the kids work with math and money management. How can you argue with that. Also, it’s a gift. I would hope that he would be interested in any gift, rather than have it end up in a heap on his bedroom floor, not to be found again for months… So, if he is doing his chores, he eats his dinner, he plays outside for a while each day and gets his school work completed adequately, how much should I limit a learning game or toy? Regardless of the educational qualities, I really don’t like those types of toys. Video games drive me crazy, but even I broke on that point this year. My husband and I got the boys each a Gameboy Advanced, with the justification that it will be helpful when traveling the 10 hours to my mother’s.
I am not certain to what end these electronic games will bring us…only that they keep my children from asking me to do crafting projects, practicing sports, and generally hanging out with me. Some days it is a blessing, and others feel like something is missing. Fortunately, with children, I know that nearly everything has a limit in it’s ability to keep their interest, and they will eventually resurface will new vigor and interests in new things I didn’t even know they were aware of… They are so fascinating, and fantastic that way.
I remember being a child once, but I don’t remember the intensity I see in my children’s minds, although I am sure it was there. Life seems so slow to children. Yet, that month I loose them to their Webkins, will go by in a flash for me. I will likely, look back on and wonder why they lost interest so quickly. So I feel that I should limit the amount of time with the computer games, Webkins and other miscellaneous electronic toys, but I find that my kids tend to wear out their interests in these things if left to their own devices, usually just before I feel it is time to pull the plug on them. So, for this moment in time, I think we’ll let things happen, watch and wonder at their marvelous explorative nature. Besides, I can always change the rules later.