ARE COMPUTERS BAD FOR CHILDREN?Computers are not bad for children. It is the use of computers without proper guidance from adults that is bad.
Computers, especially the internet, can be used as a useful teaching and learning tool for children. Even playing games can be good if the games are educational and interactive in nature. What we want to avoid are the mindless, addictive games and the time spent online on social media sites.In the past, parents had to deal with telephone usage and television time. Now, it is much more complicated with cell phones, computers and internet, iPads, iPhones and many other handheld devices. As a parent you must be ahead of curve. You must make these gadgets work for you rather than against you.Before you learn how to make use of the computer as a learning tool for your children, you must first learn how to control computer usage.So How Do You Set Rules For Children Using The Computer In Your Household?
Limit the hours or days spent online
Be consistent with your own guidelines or house rules
Always be aware of what your children are doing online. Know the sites they are visiting and the people they are chatting with.
Educate your children about the good and bad of using computers
If possible, sit down with your children to learn and play with them online
To make sure you get on the right start with computer usage at your home, sit with your child at the computer, learn with them, teach them using the computer, then educate them about computer use and what it means to be online
KIDS AND SOCIAL MEDIAIn addition to the basic rules of computer usage for children, you should do the following when it comes to children on social media sites.Monitor, monitor and monitor! Children are naive and will try to get away with what they think is OK even if you have told them otherwise.
Follow the minimum age limits set on social media sites. They are there for a reason. Don’t allow your 7 year old to have a Facebook account with 300 friends! 7 year olds should be exploring the physical world, reading and learning, not chatting on Facebook with cyber friends they don’t even know
Be your child’s first friend on Facebook if you can. Most children do not like this because they think mum or dad is invading on their privacy and they will be laughed at by their friends. The way around this is to refrain from commenting on their status updates. Unless your child stays very far away from home, there is no reason why something that can be said face-to-face in person should be said online on a Facebook page!
Constantly remind your children not to give away personal information online
Guide but don’t hover otherwise children may feel restricted and rebel
Establish a relationship of trust with your children so they can come to you
Explain to your child about cyber bullying and try to watch out for any signs of it
Make sure they post only appropriate pictures online
Monitor! Monitor! Monitor! You have to know what your children are doing online

Here are other extra things you can do for your children who are using computers.
Surf for kid friendly sites and bookmark them for your child, then let your children browse within the site you have identified as safe
If your child is very young, try to be around when they surf the internet
Always answer any question your child has about anything they came across on the internet
There are many kid friendly sites and useful, fun, interactive learning sites on the web for children. Make use of these to teach your children in a new and fun manner not possible in the past. The best thing is these resources are free! There are many excellent resources for children to learn and play online.Start early. Find good resources for children online then make use of these learning and playing sites to teach your children. Use computers as a teaching and learning tool. Make full use of the time your children spend online by guiding them to these sites. Sit with them, play with them, educate them. Keep the communication open between you and your children where computer usage is concerned. In this way, they don’t have to hide anything from you in later years about how or who they are spending their time online with. The computer does not have to be a source of argument in your home. Make it work for you!