I made a commitment to writing every day for 30 days. That shouldn't be too difficult. I simply place it at the top of my to-do list and I make it non-negotiable. If I can fritter away hours of my time looking at Facebook posts, I can certainly carve out a short period of time to express myself, right? I suffer no shortage of opinions, observations, thought or ideas. I can simply pluck one from the air and then riff, just like a blues guitarist. It's past 2:30 in the a.m., and I'd like to feel my head against my pillow, but I'm determined to keep my word.
The most recent thing I read, by Paula Poundstone and posted on Facebook, was a piece about how screen time (on video games, computers, televisions, et al.) is not good for developing brains. She jokes about how screen time is as addictive as heroin, only there is more societal awareness of heroin as a health hazard. I think she's on the right track, although I would also like to find the original sources for this information.
I've seen my own nearly nine year-old become a zombie after playing on a computer or smart phone for hours. I try to limit his screen time but it feels like a losing battle. Just telling him, over and over again that I don't want him to be on the devices all the time, that it hinders is intellectual development and so on, is not enough. I need to show him proof, show him the various articles about the effects of digital exposure or find the original studies upon which these articles are based and more.
I need to lay off my own cell. phone and ask Daddy to do the same. Daddy also plays a game on his phone a lot. I need to enforce the rules vociferously and without wavering. I yell a lot, reminding him that he needs to finish more important things before he is allowed on a game. I tell him he needs to ask for permission before playing games on a phone or on the computer. Sometimes he asks for it, but many times he doesn't. He sneaks onto the computer or phone anyway. To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment