As a matter of fact, computers do not really connect young children to the direct experiences of natural world, because they are often isolated emotional and physical. For young boys, the main form of computer use is games. A survey, at computerworld.com(http://www.computerworld.com/careertopics/careers/training/story/0,10801,68420,00.html), found that: “Boys, they say, get hooked on computers early with games - shoot 'em up, smash 'em up or chop 'em up. They graduate to wanting to build their own games, and that's their path into programming.” This explains that boys at an early age become the target of violent video games and later they want to build a career in the field of computer programming. On the other hand, instant messaging a kind of online chatting is a dominant form of computer use and pass time for young girls. Based on a survey taken by GirlScout.org (http://www.girlscouts.org/about/PDFs/NetEffects.pdf), 58% of girls believe that they have more knowledge about computer use than anyone else at home. However, researchers of Girls Scout quoted young girls were saying things like, “Being grounded from IM [instant messenger] was the worst,”. All these forms of computer use (playing games or instant messaging) require children to be sitting in front of the computer for long endless hours – if addicted to it. So, obviously this can cause physical, social and psychological effects on the child, as it is there growing stage. For example, from the perspective of a medical doctor, there is a high risk of chronic back problems due to poor posture, vision complication, migraine headaches, eating irregularities (such as skipping meals), sleep disturbance, and most importantly failing to attend personal hygiene. Also, constant use of computer can reduce the child’s time spent socializing with others, meeting new people, or attending places such as sport events because they begin to feel that their computer is the only relationship they have time to focus on. These problems can cause the child to completely lose their conversation skills. Some children might also feel depression, emptiness, irritability, distraction and withdrawal. Therefore, it is evident that serious effects can arise from the misuse of computers; so before any negative forces try to pull the children towards the computer and Internet adults need to show those children the positive side of computer use. However, not all children are attracted to the violent computer games or instant messaging. Instead a few of them do research about educational material on the Internet.
On the positive side, some computer games can improve spatial skills and visual attention; especially for children with disabilities it can be an effective learning tool. So it is certain that computer technology have always offered benefits for children with disabilities to be trained for high-paying jobs. Positive use of computers and Internet can educate young children to develop the ability to use a few standard types of software. Software that can teach education material such as math and science that is wildly available in computer stores and also libraries. Even though, constant use of computers - to play games or instant messaging - can cause addiction a study by HomeOffice.gov.uk says that computer games allow children to feel relaxation and high self-esteem whereas internet messaging is a “safe and easy way to talk to people”; perhaps even those who the child have never saw. However, a boy who is addicted to a violent game is more likely to commit a criminal activity (Anderson and Ford, 1996). And, as mentioned earlier, computer addiction can have a number of physical, social, and psychological effects on a child and it is to be taken as seriously as any other addiction that a person is battling. Although Internet and communication is more common among girls, information they might receive from strangers can be misleading. According to the CBC TV magazine Children and The Internet, 6 out of 10 young Canadians say they use chat rooms and of course not all chat rooms have people who chat are bad, again it’s a case of knowing who the children are with. It’s a fact that serious incidents can result from Internet use such as stocking, or cyber stocking as it’s known and even bullying can occur online. The Media Awareness Network, which is based here in Canada, believes of course that the Internet can be a good thing if it is used intelligently and examined critically but there is web education that needs to be done (CBC TV).
Furthermore, the Internet allows strangers’ access to a person and their home if it is not used carefully. The Internet can be thought of as a big city, so it is important as adults and parents to use basic child security rules, know where the children are – virtually speaking, and who they are with because no parents would want their child to wander the streets similarly children should not wander the Internet. However, there has to be close relationships with caring adults who can help the children understand how to use the computer appropriately in the most beneficial ways. As said in the book, Computers and Society, by Anton Reiter “education has to prepare children for this part of their future, it does not help by residing or standing aside.” Also studies, said by Alliance for Childhood, show that a stronger bond between teachers, parents, and families is an ultimate cure for children addicted to the computer and Internet. And those bonds can be weakening by the rapid advancing technology. Also, a great exposure to computing environments might create: "individuals incapable of dealing with the messiness of reality, the needs of community building, and the demands of personal commitments" was actually reported by The National Science Board in 1998 (Alliance for Childhood). Again, as adults’ parents are their children best role models, they should start teaching their children from a young age about computer and Internet use. For example, parents should set time limits on how long their children should use the computer, tell them not to give out personal information to strangers, ignore offensive messages or contents. At same time teaching children the positive side of computer and Internet use. Such as telling them about learning materials that they will find educational, be able to share ideas with others online that it is an easy way to learn from the computer and Internet. Therefore, as adult parents play an important role in teaching their children about what is right and wrong about computer and Internet use. However, parents should teach their children in a way that they can pick up the love of learning from them.
To conclude, even today many children are becoming addicted to computer and Internet use, which can lead to serious conditions like physical, social and psychological effects but as any other addiction these conditions can still be treated if parents, teachers, and family members examine the child’s use of computers and the potential of computers to reshape their lives in a positive way.
