Computer games: pros and cons. Computer games: pros and cons Essay on computer pros and cons

We have all seen American science fiction films about robots and computer systems that have taken over the world. Or maybe this is really what awaits us. And all this vaunted technological progress will turn into a tragedy for humanity. Let's figure out what's wrong with the fact that our lives are becoming more and more computerized.

Specifically, what harm a computer can cause to a child:

• the daily routine is not followed;
• it is difficult to switch to other activities, forgets about eating and hygiene;
• computer games without moderation can only cause harm;
• informational influence on the psyche of children, especially preschool age, when physiological and psychological development is underway;
• frequent immersion in the virtual world limits the child’s communication with peers and prevents him from living real life and childhood;
• If the keyboard, monitor, or mouse are placed incorrectly, the student may develop scoliosis;
• strain on the eyes, it manifests itself in the form of redness, a feeling of veils in the eyes, lacrimation;
• contributes to the occurrence of absent-minded attention syndrome;
• Gambling addiction (addiction to computer games) may occur, the child becomes irritable and aggressive;
• the desire to assert oneself in the virtual world, when it is impossible to do this in the real world (children with low self-esteem);

If there are arguments against the computer, in the modern world you are unlikely to be able to protect your child from it for a long time, so pay attention to the following points:

• limit your child’s interaction with the computer, do not let this process take its course;
• for a schoolchild, a computer should be an aid to learning, and not a toy;
• block aggressive sites and “adult” content;
• arrange, according to the rules, a place near the computer;
• ventilate the room, do wet cleaning and wipe the monitor more often;
• place cacti next to the monitor;

The main rule is to observe moderation in everything. The problem of maintaining the golden mean now arises in many families. The point is no longer about completely protecting the child from the computer, but about not turning the PC into a substitute for books, pets, nature, and live communication.

Parent meeting

"Computer - pros and cons"

Hello, dear parents - “hello” we repeat this greeting every day. Have you ever thought about why people wish each other health when they meet? Probably because health is the most important value for a person. Unfortunately, we usually start talking about health when we lose it.

I invite you to familiarize yourself with the following sad statistics.

1. Nowadays, practically no healthy children are born in Russia. For every thousand babies born, up to 900 have some kind of birth defect. Among first-graders in recent years, 90-95% are already burdened with a “bouquet” of chronic diseases, and how many more will be added in 11 school years!

2. All-Russian medical examination, during which 30 million children were examined, gave alarming results: only 33% of children are healthy, 51% have health problems, 16% have chronic pathologies.

It is no secret that the state of health is strongly influenced by many factors: lifestyle, heredity, as well as many achievements of civilization, including universal computerization.

In the modern world it is difficult to find a child who is not interested in computers. It is probably just as difficult to find a parent who would not be bothered by the child’s excessive passion for computer games.Of course, computers are now used in a variety of branches of science, technology, and art, so the ability to use them has become necessary for a child to subsequently master any serious profession and become a sought-after specialist in the labor market.

But by sitting for hours in front of a monitor, a child not only ruins his health, but also misses chances to communicate with friends and play sports.

So what should a caring parent do:

allow or denyspend time on the computer?

Today you will learn about the benefits and harms of computer activities, information on preventing computer addiction, and how to protect your child’s health.

Disputes regarding the benefits and harms of a computer are ongoing at all social levels, scientists conduct research on the impact of a computer on a person, children argue with their parents, parents argue with teachers, and so on.

You can’t help but notice the huge number of positive aspects of your child’s interaction with the computer:

1. It helps to identify and develop the child's abilities.

2. It is a great way to educate yourself.

3. Develops independent thinking.

4. Strengthens concentration.

5. Teaches the child to quickly switch from one action to another.

There are many computer-based learning programs available to help your children learn with passion.

WHAT IS BAD THEN?

The bad thing is that if the regime is not followed, the computer turns from friend into enemy. We must not forget that everything is good in moderation. Good, wonderful games that are so useful for children can also become harmful to them.

What are the main harmful factors that affect a person during prolonged communication with a computer?

Sitting for long periods of time;

Electromagnetic radiation;

Overload of the joints of the hands;

Stress due to loss of information.

Let's consider these factors separately

Seated position

A person at a computer sits in a relaxed position, but due to the static nature, it is forced and unpleasant: the muscles of the neck, head, arms, and back are tense. The result of muscle tension can be osteochondrosis, and in children - scoliosis. To reduce this harmful effect, you need to get up from the computer every hour and do a set of exercises.

Electromagnetic radiation

The issue of the impact of electromagnetic radiation on the human body is complex; thousands of scientific works are devoted to it. The results indicate the harmful effects of this radiation on the human body. Of course, modern monitors have become much safer for health than picture tubes of ten years ago, but they are not able to completely protect a person. What does electromagnetic radiation lead to? Scientists believe that the most minimal impact is a general decrease in a person's immunity, and he becomes vulnerable to harmful viruses and bacteria.

Overload of the joints of the hands

In the fingers, due to constant hitting of the keys, there is a feeling of weakness, numbness and “goosebumps” in the pads. This can lead to damage to the articular and ligamentous apparatus of the hand, and in the future hand diseases can become chronic. To prevent long-term work on the computer from leading to the development of CTS, it is enough to take short breaks every hour, during which you perform a set of exercises for the hands.

The human visual system is poorly adapted to viewing images on a monitor screen. The eyes react to the smallest vibration of a text or picture, and even more so to the flickering of the screen. Overload of the eyes leads to loss of visual acuity. This is due to the fact that the image on the screen is not composed of continuous lines like on paper, but of individual luminous and flickering dots. As a result, the eyes begin to water, headaches, double vision and other disturbances appear. This phenomenon is called “computer vision syndrome.” Following the basic rules of visual hygiene will help you avoid it.

Comfortable workplace.

The workplace should be sufficiently illuminated, the light field should be evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​the desktop. The computer must be equipped with a good monitor with the correct settings. It is necessary to do eye exercises every half hour.

Stress when losing information

Not all users regularly make backup copies of important information. But viruses don’t sleep, and hard drives from the best companies can break down, and you can accidentally press the wrong button. And the result is stress caused by the loss of important information.

I conducted a survey among students to investigate how they work at the computer and whether it is dangerous to their health; 82 students took part in the survey.

Results of a survey of school students.

Based on the results of the survey, it turned out that 96% of students have a computer at home.

1. Do you have a computer at home?
2. Yes – 96% (79 people)
3. No - 4% (3 people)

It is considered normal if a student spends 3 hours a day at the computer. Among the survey participants, the following are conducted daily at the computer:

1. How much time per day on average do you spend at the computer?
2. No more than an hour - 14%
3. From 1 to 3 hours - 32%
4. More than 3 hours - 41%
5. All free time from classes - 13%

1. What role does the Internet play in your life?
2. I use it as needed (to perform specific tasks) - 24%
3. I like to “walk” through the Internet when I’m relaxing - 25%
4. I often search for information and communicate - 39%
5. I can’t imagine life without him - 12%

1. What interests you more (what do you prefer?
2. Computer - 22%
3. Reading a book - 10%
4. Walk in the fresh air - 39%
5. Direct “live” communication with a friend - 29%

1. Do your eyes get tired when working on a computer?
2. No - 74%
3. Yes - 26%
4. Slide 8. What type of activity do you do on the computer? From the options provided, select one or more options that account for the majority of your time spent at the computer.
5. Prepare for lessons, look for “educational” information (material for reports, essays, presentations, etc.) - 63%
6. Looking for “extracurricular” information on the Internet (music, images, interesting videos, horoscopes, weather forecasts, etc.) - 42%
7. Communicate (on-line, by email, on forums, etc.) - 40%
8. Watch movies, read e-books, listen to music - 32%
9. Play computer games - 40%

Most schoolchildren do not know the rules for working at a computer, do not take enough care of their health, and spend too much time at the computer. Which can lead to various diseases, including mental ones.

Computer addiction is a problem that people all over the world are trying to combat.

Let's see what computer dependencies there are.

Let's start with computer games.

Experts identify the following types of computer games:

1. "kill 'em all" games;
2. adventure games;
3. strategic games in which you need to make decisions;
4. educational games;
5. educational games;
6. diagnostic games;
7. graphic, related to drawing, design.

Let's look at the disadvantages of computer games. You see them on the screen.

Osteochondrosis

Labored breathing

Diseases of the joints of the hands.

Gambling addiction - This is a person’s psychological dependence on computer games, which affects his physical and mental health.

So why are children so attracted to computer games? Could they be useful?

Let's look at the reasons for our passion for computer games.

1. A child deprived of parental attention

2. Inability to cope with difficulties on your own

3. Parents, when communicating with their child, are not aware of his growing up.
4. Low self-esteem, dependence on the opinions of others

5. Attracted by the imaginary world

6. Errors can always be fixed by restarting your computer

7. Identification with the main characters

8. Everything happens according to the teenager’s wishes (“I am the master”)

9. The computer is a communication partner

There are gambling addiction syndromes. If you notice such actions on the part of your child, it means that he is addicted to the computer.(Parents read the text from the slide)

1. The child spends most of the time (6-10 hours a day) at the computer
2. He has virtually no real friends
3. If a student reacts aggressively or becomes anxious to your ban on sitting at the computer
4. The child is deceiving you, skips school to sit at the computer, has become worse in his studies, has lost interest in school subjects.

If you do not find such signs, that’s good, but any prevention is better than cure. Therefore, it is necessary to follow some rules:

1. Communicate with your child “on the same wavelength.”

From early childhood, make him your ally in family matters. When talking to your child, ask for his opinion. Tell him every day how your day went, ask him what was interesting in his life.

Be sure to allow your teenager to invite friends to the house, ask about how he communicates with his peers. Share your own childhood experiences to help him solve his problems.

Remember that for a teenager it is very important how those closest to him perceive him. This is the basis of self-esteem.

2. Limit your child's time at the computer.

Ophthalmologists believe that a child aged 7-12 years can sit at a computer for 2-3 hours, but not at night.

After 12 years, a less dangerous period begins.

But it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of each child. But the main thing is do not allow your child to play on the computer 1.5-2 hours before bedtime and at night.

3. The computer is for good!

Keep track of what games your child plays. Try to keep games that develop logical thinking on your home computer. If you notice that your child starts talking to game characters, prohibit him from using the computer!

If you find signs of gaming addiction in your child, you should contact a psychologist.

It should be said that along with the disadvantages, computer games also have advantages. So let's take a look. (Parents read the text from the slide)

Computer games teach:

1. achieve your goal;
2. improve intellectual skills;
3. classify and generalize;
4. think analytically

“Good” games perform a number of functions that have a positive effect on the student.

1. There are a lot of educational programs among modern game programs.

2. A child perceives a regular activity on a computer as a game.

3.Independent work at the computer helps the child develop fine muscles of the hand and hand-eye coordination.

4. Games on the computer contribute to the development of abstract thinking in children.

Now we will look at the concept of “Netegolism”

Some people have the Internet installed on their computer at home; almost every child has it on their mobile phone.

People who are addicted to the Internet are called networkaholics. They need to be online again and again, and they can easily spend 12-14 hours on the clock, continuously downloading music, programs, communicating in chats and forums. They make endless virtual acquaintances without trying to bring them into reality.

In addition to the main signs of computer addiction, network addicts exhibit additional symptoms:

Obsessive urge to constantly check email;

Anticipation of the next online session;

Increased time spent online;

Increasing the amount of money spent online.

According to statistics, networkaholics make up no more than 3-5% of the total number of Internet users.

Memo to parents

Parents themselves must be able to use a computer at least at a basic level in order to control their child.

The child should not play computer games before bedtime;

If a child uses the computer irresponsibly, a password must be entered to make access impossible without parental permission.

Involve in household responsibilities;

Cultivate family reading;

Do not allow uncontrolled access to the Internet;

Don't forget that parents are role models, so don't break the rules you set for your child.

Now that we have considered all the main “pros” and “cons” of using a computer, it is probably clear that the computer from a “mechanical enemy” turns into a friend, helping to solve various problems of education, upbringing, and development of our child, but subject to compliance with all recommendations which I was talking about.

Wide range of possibilities

A child can learn to read and count, gain skills in learning foreign languages ​​by watching educational cartoons and programs. If you have real abilities in drawing, music or anything else, then finding use for them in the computer world is much easier.

Computer games

They help in the development of memory and attention, logical thinking, teach the child to analyze his actions, develop imagination and creative abilities. Computer games are of great importance not only for the development of intelligence, but also for the development of their motor skills.

Workplace organization

Order on the table is facilitated by its correct filling with the necessary attributes. There should be no trinkets or unnecessary used pieces of paper in the form of “origami” on the table. And finally, the most important enemy is dust. It should not be on the table or on the monitor screen.

But there are a lot of arguments AGAINST

Eye strain

The fear that a child will spoil his eyesight is perhaps the most important fear of all parents. No wonder ophthalmologists sounded the alarm in connection with global computerization and even came up with a special term - “computer visual syndrome”, which occurs in almost all users, both small and adult.

Bad posture

Working at a computer forces a child to look at the screen for a long time and at the same time keep his hands on the keyboard or work with the mouse. As a result, you have to sit motionless for a long time, and this is fraught with pain in the muscles of the neck, back, joints of the hands, headaches, and poor posture.

Mental stress

The computer can cause long-term disorders in the mental development of children. For many, some types of memory work worse, there is emotional immaturity and irresponsibility. There are also great difficulties in communication, and self-doubt appears. At the same time, children cultivate instability, absent-mindedness, sloppiness, and a disregard for loved ones.

Computer addiction (gaming addiction)

A problem that everyone around the world is trying to combat. Children and adults play computer games, visit internet cafes and gaming clubs. The production of computer games is a powerful industry, and, unfortunately, children inevitably fall into its web. Gambling addiction is a person’s psychological dependence on computer games, which affects his physical and mental health.

Symptoms that indicate computer addiction

1. The child spends most of his free time (6–10 hours a day) at the computer. He has practically no real friends, but many virtual ones.

2. The student reacts aggressively or becomes anxious to a parental ban on sitting at the computer.

3. The child cheats, skips school to sit at the computer, begins to study worse, and has lost interest in school subjects.

4. During the game, the teenager begins to talk to himself or to the characters in the game as if they were real. He becomes more aggressive.

5. A child, passionate about playing or communicating on the Internet, forgets about food and personal hygiene.

6. The student has difficulty getting up in the morning and wakes up in a depressed state. The mood improves only when the child sits down at the computer

What to do - to protect the child from the modern miracle of technology or not? The question is, of course, complex, but completely solvable. A computer, like any household item, can be both useful and harmful for a child. You just need to know when to stop everything, and follow simple but effective recommendations.

And most importantly: the computer in a child’s life should not play a dominant role in comparison with other types of activity, much less cause damage to health.

Essay in English For and against computers / Computers: For And Against with translation into Russian

In English. Why We Go To School
Computers are now an essential part of our life. I can't imagine my life without a computer. There are so many advantages of using a computer.
First of all they make our lives easier. Computers help us at school, university, at work. It’s faster to write something on computer than by hand, it’s more convenient to send emails than letters by post. I often use computer in my studies, for example, if I need to read a book I can easily download it from the Internet. I also use the Internet to search for information I need for school.
I like watching movies very much. But I don’t like these movies shown at our cinemas and the choice is not so wide. Using my computer I can find any movie I like and moreover I can watch films in English.
Computer and Internet help me to communicate with my friends who live in other countries and find new friends. It would be difficult to stay in touch with them without computer, but with the help of it we can send emails to each other, share photos, music and so on.
But unfortunately some people keep no measure in using computers. Children and teenagers are addicted to computer games and don’t have time for studying or reading books. Some of them prefer online chatting to face to face communication with their friends. Computer harms our psychological state and eye sight.
So I think computers are really useful if we don’t use them excessively.

Translating to Russian language. Pros and cons of computers
Computers are now an integral part of our lives. I can't imagine life without a computer. There are so many benefits of using a computer.
First of all, they make our life easier. Computers help us at school, university and at work. It is much faster to type text on a computer than to write by hand, and it is much more convenient to send an email than a letter by mail. I often use the computer for studying, for example, if I need to read a book, I can just download it from the Internet. I can also find information I need for school.
I love watching movies. But I don’t like the films that are shown in our cinemas, and the choice is not very large. With the help of my computer I can find the films I want and, moreover, I can watch the film in English.
The computer and the Internet help me communicate with friends who live in other countries and find new friends. It would be difficult to keep in touch with them without a computer, but with its help we can send each other emails, share photos, music and so on.
But, unfortunately, some people do not know how to use a computer. Children and teenagers are addicted to computer games and have no time to study and read. Some people prefer to chat with friends online rather than face-to-face. The computer has a negative impact on human psychology and vision.
I think computers are useful in many ways as long as we don't abuse them.

UPK “Bakshtovskiy d/s - secondary school”

IT-teacher

Perlukhin Valery Nikolaevich

Computer in the life of a schoolchild. Pros and cons

Until recently, the computer was perceived as a curiosity. Today, computers for home use are purchased very, very actively. And if children have reached adolescence, then, as a rule, they are the ones who initiate the purchase of a computer. Therefore, parents whose children come into contact with a computer in one way or another should clearly understand all the pros and cons of using this smart machine.

A computer equipped with multimedia tools is capable of reproducing, recording and processing music and video with fairly high quality, including from ordinary audio and video discs, receiving and recording radio and television programs, serving as an artist’s easel and a composer’s score sheet, as well as working with photos. Modern programs allow this to be done by a person completely unfamiliar with programming.

Telephone, music and video center, typewriter, video console, notebook, reference book, encyclopedia - this is only a small part of the functions that a computer can perform

However, perhaps the most important advantage of a modern computer is that it is a means of communication. By purchasing a modem and plugging your computer into a telephone socket, you can contact any other computer with a modem in any part of the world, exchange programs, texts, or play online games, and even talk “live” if you and your subscriber have a computer equipped with a microphone. You can use your computer as a fax machine and answering machine. Finally, the most colossal repository of information on Earth may open before you - the Internet.

Arguments for using a computer

In the modern world, when technology is developing at the speed of light, you simply cannot do without computer knowledge. And the sooner a child has computer literacy, the better. The information age in which we live does require new skills from children - such as the ability to obtain, evaluate and interpret large amounts of data. And it is impossible to do all this without a computer assistant, which becomes the main means of obtaining information and communication?

Many scientists are confident that the computer is beneficial and only has a positive effect on the mental development of children, citing as an example the expanding capabilities of the computer for learning (including during various games, for example, strategy games).

Moreover, with the help of computer technologies, and, first of all, the Internet, the distinction between the center and the province is removed - modern educational technologies, access to information becomes available to any user, regardless of whether he lives in Moscow, London or a small town .

Many special educational programs have been created and are being created - for preschoolers, schoolchildren, and students. It has been noticed that children master many skills, for example, counting, reading, reading geographic maps, with the help of a computer faster, and often better, than with conventional education. And this is a huge plus.

Modern children certainly communicate a lot with television, video, computers, and mobile phones. If the previous generation was a generation of books, then the modern one increasingly receives information through a series of videos.

Let's see what computer programs for children are, what are their benefits, and what are their disadvantages. When using computer educational games, any child’s fantasies, characters from books and fairy tales come to life on the display screen. But objects in the surrounding world, numbers and letters also come to life. When they get into a computer educational game, they create a special world, similar to the real one, but also different from it. Computer games are designed so that the child can imagine not just a single concept or specific situation, but gets a generalized idea of ​​all similar situations or objects. Thus, children develop such important thinking operations as generalization and classification.

One of the most important functions of computer games is educational. In these games, a child masters the skills of counting, reading, drawing, and design in an accessible form. Not only psychologists, but also parents and educators who study with children on the computer have noticed that in the process of these activities the memory and attention of children improve. And this is natural, since it corresponds to the laws of mental development of children. Children's memory is involuntary, children remember only vivid, emotional incidents or details for them, and here again the computer is an indispensable assistant, as it makes the content of the material being learned significant and vivid, which not only speeds up its memorization, but also makes it more meaningful and long-lasting .

Computer games are of great importance not only for the development of children’s intelligence, but also for the development of their motor skills, more precisely for the formation of motor coordination.

Almost all parents know how difficult it can be to get their child to study. The child enjoys studying on the computer and will never object to an offer to study on the computer. This is due to the fact that the computer itself is as attractive to children as any new toy.

The fear that a child will spoil his eyesight is perhaps the most important fear of all parents. And, in general, it is justified. No wonder ophthalmologists sounded the alarm in connection with global computerization and even came up with a special term - “computer visual syndrome”, which occurs in almost all users, both small and large.

Argument against: uncomfortable position.

Eye strain is not the only problem that a user may encounter. Working on a computer requires your child to look at the screen for long periods of time while keeping their hands on the keyboard or working with the mouse. As a result, your child has to sit motionless for a long time, and this is fraught with pain in the muscles of the neck, back, joints of the hands, and headaches.

Argument against: mental stress.

Psychologists say that a computer can cause long-term disorders in the mental and intellectual development of children. The so-called computer generation has poorer functioning of some types of memory, emotional immaturity and irresponsibility.

They have great difficulty communicating, are unsure of themselves, have complexes and are shy. At the same time, they cultivate in themselves imbalance, absent-mindedness, sloppiness, self-isolation, loss of all usual values, loss of internal guidelines, and disregard for loved ones.

Unfortunately, this is not a complete list of mental problems that arise in children from long-term communication with a computer. By affecting the emotional level of the child, this technical innovation can also cause the child to become more aggressive or even cause an outbreak of violence. In addition, children stop fantasizing and don’t think for themselves.

Computer addiction is a problem that people all over the world are trying to combat. Children and adults play computer and telephone games, visit Internet cafes and gaming clubs. The production of games for computers and mobile phones is a powerful industry, and, unfortunately, our children inevitably fall into its web.

What is “gambling addiction”? Gambling addiction is a person’s psychological dependence on computer games (as well as on others), which affects his physical and mental health. Gamers are constantly in a state of anxiety and are often aggressive, especially if something or someone prevents them from doing their “favorite” activity, that is, gaming. When they win, they are in a state of euphoria, which very soon gives way to anxiety: they need to play again to get an energy boost. Gamers can spend all their free time at the computer (sometimes 10 hours a day), and they cease to be interested in everything that is not related to the game. Because of this, relationships with loved ones, friends, classmates, and colleagues begin to collapse. The teenager “goes” into virtual, imaginary worlds in which he himself is a fictional character. Why does gaming addiction develop? The first and necessary condition for the formation of any addiction is a feeling of internal anxiety and a feeling of dissatisfaction. There are two ways to get out of a state of anxiety: a person either becomes aggressive (may, for example, break objects, take out anger on strangers, even committing crimes), or seeks to “leave.” And you can go into alcoholism, drug addiction, religious sects, and finally, into the game...

In a computer game, a person can simultaneously “throw out” his aggression on virtual characters and hide from the joyless reality for him. But where does increased anxiety and dissatisfaction come from? Often the reason is problems in the family, misunderstandings between parents and children, “abandonment” of children, and excessive demands placed on them by adults. The second condition for the formation of gambling addiction is pleasure. No matter what a person plays, toy soldiers or shooters, adrenaline is released during the game. And if he also wins, the body produces joy hormones - endorphins. You want to experience this feeling again and again, and for this you need to repeat the game. This is how addiction arises...

But why do some become gambling addicts and others not? This largely depends on the characteristics of the person’s character. Adolescents with low self-esteem who use games to assert themselves are more susceptible to computer addiction: either to win a huge amount of money or to feel like a victorious hero in a virtual battle. There is another factor that can give rise to gaming addiction - the degree of suggestibility of a teenager, in other words, his willingness to submit to someone else’s will. Typically, teenagers who lack independence, have difficulty making decisions, and are ready to submit to a strong leader find themselves caught in the network of computer “shooters.” Cultivate in your child independence, a critical look at advertising slogans, and encourage initiative in him. This is the best prevention of gambling addiction.

Another reason that draws teenagers into the computer world is problems in communicating with others. Children who face similar problems try to compensate for the lack of real communication through correspondence on the Internet, communication on various forums, and in chat rooms under a fictitious name. Often teenagers even pretend to be other people and simulate their own destiny. On the one hand, this is not bad, because the child tries to behave differently than usual, discovers new abilities in himself, which can be useful in real life. But, unfortunately, if a teenager devotes time only to virtual friends, this impoverishes his life even more and gradually leads to the loss of real relationships. The “risk group” also includes those children who dream of becoming leaders, but never become them. They are the ones who can sit at the computer for days, imagining themselves as rulers of the galaxies. They definitely need to be helped to realize their potential: support any of their endeavors, develop their talents and abilities.

Symptoms that indicate computer addiction

1. The child spends most of his free time (6–10 hours a day) at the computer. He has practically no real friends, but many virtual ones.

2. If a student reacts aggressively or becomes anxious to your ban on sitting at the computer.

3. The child is deceiving you, skips school to sit at the computer, has become worse in his studies, has lost interest in school subjects.

4. During the game, the teenager begins to talk to himself or to the characters in the game as if they were real. He becomes more aggressive.

5. A child, captivated by playing or communicating on the Internet, forgets about food and personal hygiene.

6. . The student has difficulty getting up in the morning and wakes up in a depressed state. The mood improves only when the child sits down at the computer.

In order to prevent your child from getting caught up in computer games, communicate with your child “on the same wavelength.” From early childhood, make him your ally in family matters. Discuss rather than hush up family problems. When talking to your child, ask for his opinion. Tell him every day how your day went, ask him what was interesting in his life. Be sure to allow your teenager to invite friends to the house, ask about how he communicates with his peers. Share your own childhood experiences to help him solve his problems. Remember that for a teenager it is very important how those closest to him perceive him. This is the basis of self-esteem, and with this style of communication it will remain adequate. Second: limit your time on the computer. Ophthalmologists believe that a child 8–9 years old can spend a maximum of 40 minutes a day at the computer.

Experts have found that the most critical period in the development of the human psyche is the age from three to five years. Try to protect your child from computer games at this age. Until the age of 7, you can play on the computer for no more than 20 minutes a day, since at this age the child completely compares himself with the virtual image and is not ready to part with it.

How to check your child:

Quite often the question arises: what kind of information has a child received from the Internet and what is he doing on the computer? There are several simple control systems.

While your child is working, look at the contents of the screen occasionally. No matter how simple this advice is, many parents, leaving their child alone with the computer, completely forget about it.

If your child has become a separate user on the computer, look at what toys are on the desktop.

How to reduce the harmful influences of the computer

The first and most important factor is the load on vision. It is because of the strain on vision that a child (or another user) experiences headaches and dizziness over a short period of time. If you work on a computer for long enough, visual fatigue can lead to a steady decrease in visual acuity. However, I will note right away that the computer is not the main reason for the development of myopia in a child. Heredity, television, and reading in the dark play a huge role in this. If handled correctly, the strain on vision from a computer can be significantly reduced.

1.1. Firstly, image jitters are harmful due to the low quality of the monitor’s scanning.

1.2. The second most important factor in eye fatigue is the content of the image.

The easiest way for the eye to perceive is a static, large color image accompanied by sound. Drawing on a computer is perceived worse. Here sound no longer plays a distracting role, and the eye does all the work.

It is much more difficult for vision when a child (user) is forced to read text from the screen. Therefore, the Internet is quite a dangerous thing, because here you have to read a lot, and read quickly.

And finally, the real killers of vision are games. A moving image, small elements - all this leads to such overwork, which is removed very slowly.

How dangerous is a computer to your eyesight? When comparing it with a TV, you should remember that the resolution of a computer monitor and its quality are many times higher than the quality of a television tube. However, the display tends to be closer. And we can assume that the load on the eye from a monitor is comparable to the load from a TV. Therefore, the time spent at the computer and the time spent in front of the TV should be summed up.

The second most harmful factor affecting health when working with a computer is a cramped posture. When sitting at a computer, a child (or adult) must look at the screen from a certain distance and at the same time keep his hands on the keyboard or controls. This forces his body to take a certain position and not change it until the end of the work. In this regard, a computer is much more dangerous than a TV, which allows you to move freely. The following disorders occur due to a cramped posture:

Labored breathing. This is the most insidious of all enemies. The elbows brought forward do not allow the chest to move freely, and this leads to asthma, the development of coughing attacks and other manifestations.

The human body is not designed to spend long hours in a fixed position. Long periods of immobility reduce blood flow to the muscles. If this congestion occurs in the muscles of the shoulders, back or neck, headaches may occur as the muscles transmit "discomfort signals" to the nerves of the sensitive tissues of the face, head and scalp.

When sitting for a long time with drooping shoulders, a permanent change in the musculoskeletal system occurs, especially in young children. Sometimes curvature of the spine occurs.

There is a possibility of disease in the joints of the hands. When working at a computer, a person’s hand is forced to make many small movements, it becomes very tired, and with prolonged work, chronic diseases develop.

To help reduce the harmful effects of a cramped posture, you should sit in the most comfortable position possible in the most comfortable chair possible. Your back should remain level, your feet should be firmly planted on the floor, and your head should be kept level and not jutted forward like a turtle peeking out of its shell. Additionally, your chair should be firm but provide adequate lumbar support. Therefore, the most important thing in reducing the load is properly selected furniture. Both tables, chairs, and other accessories must be specialized, and selected specifically for children.

A good chair takes half the load off. A special operator's chair on casters, with an adjustable back, without armrests and rotating around its axis allows the child to change his position while working. Children fidget with pleasure in such chairs, which means their chest and spine are working. The gas cartridge makes it possible to adjust the height strictly individually, and this also relieves fatigue.

The third most important factor is mental stress. The computer requires no less concentration than driving a car. Interesting games require enormous tension, which practically does not happen under normal conditions. This area is very little studied, since modern multimedia technology has only recently appeared. And yet you can reduce the mental load.

First, you should take breaks while working. During the lesson, the teacher monitors this; at home, you can install a timer program on your computer. Every 30 minutes - a break of 15 minutes, for an adult - 10 minutes. During the break, you need to do the vision and relaxation exercises described at the very end of the recommendations.

Secondly, you should carefully monitor the content of the games your child plays and what sites he visits. Although the idea has taken root in the public consciousness that the most harmful thing about a computer is radiation, in fact the impact on a child’s psyche can be much more serious.

From what we have read, it follows that the safe duration of a child’s work at the computer depends on many circumstances. With good workplace equipment and the correct selection of occupation, safe work time can be significantly extended. And, conversely, if the workplace is poorly organized, even generally accepted standards can be harmful to health.

Thus:

To reduce eye fatigue:

use a good monitor, take into account its position and distance from the eyes to the display (45-60 cm);

To get rid of glare on the screen from additional light sources, they should only be used to illuminate documents. Natural light should come from the side (left).

time of continuous work with the monitor: for an adult - 2 hours; for a child - 30 minutes; break - at least 15 minutes

limiting the time spent playing games and surfing the Internet (the most harmful for vision);

2. Reducing physical fatigue (cramped posture):

a special computer chair on a gas cartridge, without armrests;

special computer desk with a retractable board for the keyboard.

3. Reducing mental stress:

limiting the time spent playing shooting games and surfing the Internet;

regular breaks of 15 minutes every 30 minutes.

Also, do not forget to ventilate the room where the computer is located.

What should you do - protect your child from the modern miracle of technology or not? The question is, of course, complex, but completely solvable. A computer, like any household item, can be both useful and harmful for a child. But the same can be said about almost any other thing, even the most seemingly harmless children's toy. You just need to know when to stop everything, and follow simple but effective recommendations.