Comments on: Avoiding the summer slide

By: Christi Goddard

Christi Goddard — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:19:51 +0000

Both of my teenage daughters used to do all the social media to keep up with their friends, but after time it became a lot less important to them. They both enjoy reading (the 13 year old especially), plus both have other interests. My 17 year old plays the clarinet and saxaphone while my youngest is a pretty good artist. If there's anything that they do which I wish they did less of is text message. They are lost without their cell phones.

By: Rabia

Rabia — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:04:10 +0000

I think the younger the kid, the less they need computer time. I would rather that my k'er (and his younger sibs) spend their time reading (or looking at) books, being outside, doing art, and playing board and card games. My kids get very little screen time overall, and I think it's done them a world of good. I've noticed that when we do watch something on TV or play games on the Internet, it has a deleterious effect on their behavior.

My kids are surrounded by books. We regularly bring home massive canvas tote bags filled with books from two different libraries. I love to see the 5 yo, 4 yo and the 1 yo all sitting on the couch in a row, "reading" books (well, really reading in the 5 yo's case :)).

By: Suzi McGowen

Suzi McGowen — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:53:24 +0000

I'm a poster for either side. Or rather my 16 year old son is. He's being playing computer games since he was two and is very much a child of the Internet age. He also has ADHD.

On the other hand, he's been reading at college level since 5th grade, reads a lot of books (and reads a lot), and he's working as an intern at a microscopy lab working with (and adjusting) an electron microscope this summer.

So, he supports both paradigms: "too much" internet "causes" ADHD and reading "a lot" makes kids smarter.

Of course, maybe ADHD kids are drawn to the internet, rather than the internet causing ADHD. Maybe smart kids like reading, rather than reading making kids smart.

Or maybe it's a mix of both, or something else

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:22:52 +0000

Somewhere in between? I think the internet makes the sound-byte nature of our culture more prevalent, and that does affect our attention spans. But I think the internet can be used to help learning. For children, I'm sure there are great interactive encyclopedias and the like, and as a library worker, I can attest to the fact that many people of all ages are able to access more information through databases and the like.

But I think we must encourage children to read longer works, and that we need to make sure their curriculum is structured well so that their education does not became based around one tool (such as the computer).

By: Clix

Clix — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:15:03 +0000

A teacher-blogger I know raised a good point: we see ourselves differently depending on the media we use.

By: Designs by JoLea

Designs by JoLea — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:37:55 +0000

It really depends on how it is used. Like television, the internet can be used for licentious entertainment, or for real educational content.

What surprised me the most with my own kids (two boys), was that they skipped reading children's books almost entirely. At twelve, my oldest prefers to read Louis L'Amour novels, and the younger brother usually has his nose in a Popular Science magazine or an art book.

They use an internet-based homeschool curriculum, which requires them to read more than play games, and when school is over for the day, they are ready to something other than look at the computer screen.

So, I really think that most kids, given the opportunity to choose, will find books that they like, in spite of having the internet to distract them. If given adequate structure to their internet use, it can be a tremendous tool for developing creativity, and add to their knowledge and skill. Without structure, just like television, they will tend toward the baser nature, and rot their brains. Just like we would...