Q: I read an article recently in which a pediatrician was encouraging parents to remove com-puters, cellphones and video games from their children’s bedrooms.
The article made sense to me but when I tried to follow the pediatrician’s advice and take the computers and TVs from our kids’ bedrooms, I met a wall of resistance from my son, daughter and husband. I would like to pursue this in the future but I am discouraged. Do you have any suggestions that might be helpful?
A: I am glad that you have taken the pediatrician’s recommendation to heart. At times, the advice appears to be too idealistic to be useful.
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Most pediatricians are experienced with the challenges of parenting today’s child.
They see the negative consequences of what we as parents do to our children. Pediatricians see obesity in our children, tired and lethargic kids and children who have been bullied in text messages and emails.
Many doctors believe that if children played fewer electronic games, exercised regularly and had decent sleep, their overall health would improve.
Taking TVs, cellphones and iPads out of the bedrooms would help.
In many ways, electronic media has led children and adults into exciting discoveries.
But we have paid a price and we will continue to do so until we take control of the electronics and not fall victim to insensitive cyber intrusions into our lives.
Today’s parents make an effort to tune into their children’s emotional needs and respond accordingly. I admire those who stress interpersonal relations with their children and try to understand and appreciate the developing child’s emotional turmoil.
You are not going to get electronic games, computers and cellphones out of the bedrooms until you, as a parent, are also prepared to encourage more structure in your children’s daily routines.
As a parent, you must learn to say no to your children, including saying no to late night excursions, no to unreasonable demands and no to expensive shopping ventures.
If you don’t learn to say no to your children, following the pediatrician’s advice will be an insurmountable task.
