When we were kids, they told us TV would rot our brains, and while there are probably some people who may have been better off academically had they not wasted hours on end plopped down in front of the tube, most of the people I know aren’t too damaged from watching TV. Now that the digital age is upon us, and more homes than ever contain one or more personal computers, experts say the Internet may be rotting your child’s brain.
Recent studies conducted by the Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy suggest parents who give their children computers to help them with school work may actually be doing their little ones a grave disservice.
The study, conducted between 2000 through 2005 when more households gained access to computers and high speed Internet, suggests much of the problem seems to lie in kids grades 5 through 8, especially in households where strict Internet guidance isn’t practiced. These kids tend to score lower on standardized testing than kids whose parents implement strict rules and supervision because children were using the ‘Net to surf, play games and watch videos, rather than study.
I have noticed on a personal level a significant improvement in my daughter’s academic achievement since I cut her Internet usage down to one hour a day, which includes research time for school projects as well. Maybe the Internet really does rot the brain. The irony in this is that I found this information online, and now I’m sharing it with you in another online venue.