February 22, 2007
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Computer Time
I was just reading an article about how Bill Gates and his wife limit the amount of time their daughter can spend playing games on the computer.
She is given 45 minutes of “screen time” a day during the week and one hour a day on the weekends. She is allowed additional time for homework. Here is the link: Link
How much personal time should a child be allowed on the computer a day?
Comments (101)
Good for them! I’d say 30 minutes on weekdays and an hour on weekends. This is play time, not homework time.
It’s the parent’s decision. I wish my dad would do that to my brother though…
I attend a “virtual charter” school so I’m doing around 8 hours per day and I dislike it–even though I’m on an iBook g4.
I would probably say more than 3 hours of non-research time is too much. I’m glad Gates has any sense.
Cheers,
m
smart idea. i think these time limits are pretty good. i also think kids should not have computers in their rooms, they should work/play on the “family computer” in a common area.
idk but my boyfriend has a limit on how long he can be on aim
Depends on what they are doing…as in research or playing games. But it is a good idea to limit computer time. It can consume a person’s childhood with adult issues they shouldn’t have to deal with until they reach adulthood. It is hard to censor what kids see and read online.
It’s different for each child, you have to find what works
it should definently be balanced with outside playtime and stuff though
I agree with this whole heartedly. I also think children should be encouraged to play outside for X number of hours every week… learning the wonder of bug guts and bird nests.
Depends on the kid. But 45 minutes a day is a great starting point.
Wow, only an hour a day?
I feel like a computer zombie now… I spend at least three hours on weekend days on my laptop. >.<
I’m only on for about an hour
Maybe two
On weekends or Fridays, sometimes 3
o_^
seems fair to me!
that sounds about right enough time.
I’d say about an hour a day. I mean, afterall that’s about a TV program time or a class in school, so it seems reasonable. Over the weekend, maybe an hour and a half.
she is not very old, i’d say that is reasonable.
I know I for one spend almost all day on my computer
I think someone’s favorite Dan is using Digg for his news sources.
(Perhaps even specifically, Google Desktop couple with the Digg newsfeed — and if that isn’t the case, he needs to get it.)
Is she limited on her tv time? Its still a screen!
this is a trick question, so I’m not gonna answer… my wife put you up to this, didn’t she????
It depends if it is high speed internet or slow dial-up. If they have to wait forever for something to load, more time.
psssssssssh i live on the internet.
i better not get limited.
As much as they damned well please. Pfft.
I think the limits the Gates impose are pretty good.
I’d say two hours per day during the weekdays and no more than four hours per day on the weekends. You can’t really do too much gaming in 45 minutes.
The time the child gets should also be based on how much homework and chores they get.
Now that I think about it, it may be best to let children game only after they finish all their schoolwork and do their chores.
psssssssssh i live on the internet.
i better not get limited.
Posted 2/22/2007 2:03 PM by rufioXlover
SAME HERE!!!
I live on the computer. I use it to update on news and current events, to communicate with friends, to listen to (and get) music, to do work, and just to pass the time when I’m bored. I don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s better than video games or TV because I’m least I’m being updated on world events and still being at least somewhat “social” with my friends by communicating with them.
That depends on the child and what they’re doing with it.
Depends on how old the kid is.
wow I’d die without my computer.. which probably isn’t good haha. It’s saying a lot when the person who practically invented the computer.. doesn’t let his daughter get on for very long lol
Who cares how much time she can spend online.. can you imagine the bank she’s got for being Gates daughter? Lucky girl..
That sound about right to me!
Just don’t end up like me, kids.
Should kids be limited on internet time? I’m sure I should. Just lately, with publishing and all this bad weather, I’m spending so much time on it that I’m having to force myself to do something physical before I turn into a ball of short-sighted fat.
an hour i guess
idk…i was allowed a certain time when i was younger…and once when my parents were out of town, i was online allllll day, and they took away the computer for a month
The parents should decide for themselves
For someone like me, who doesn’t watch television and doesn’t have the ability to do things after school and hang out with friends, I say 2 hours on a weekday, no limit on weekends.. that’s conditional, of course, to if all necessary tasks are done, grades are acceptable, and I feel the child is socializing in the real world enough.
that is all my kids do when they get home and it’s out of control…
I’d say it depends on the child. In fact, no limits should be set unless it is clear that by using the computer, the child is neglecting other important areas, or it proves to be harmful. After all, why limit something that is causing no harm? As long as it’s moderate and the kid is being responsible in all other areas, there shouldn’t be an issue.
-Jared
Imagine Gates, who made his billions from personal computers for everyone else’s kids as well as adults, limits his own child’s time on the computer. I find that sort of ironic.
As far as your question, it depends on the child and the use of the computer by that child. Every individual is different and their computer usage is different. As long as they don’t forget to sleep, eat and get some physical exercise as well as actually go to school, church, interact with family and friends, then any time left over could be computer time.
Haha that’s ironic
I’m an avid beliver that computers, tv, etc suck out your brain if you are on them too long..I always end up feeling like a zombie if I stay on too long..and its easy to waste a ridiculious amount of time on them if you’re not careful…I think the amount depends on each child but yes I agree there should be a limit. It teaches self control.
Poor girl. I bet her parents can afford I really fast connection too.
I’d say depends on what exactly they’re doing and how their behavior has been… like sort of a point system… like getting points for being good, and then they can “spend” those points as time on the computer or something.
*shrug*
I’m at this moment cutting class so that I can blog and surf. I don’t think I’m qualified to answer this question.
Haha, my youth minister told us about Bill Gates’ kids just yesterday! Kind of weird that the inventor of computers, Microsoft, whatever, limits the amount of time his kids have on the computer.
… I never thought he was married.
I used to only be allowed 4 hours a day on the computer.
But then I got my own computer, lol.
I applaud Gates for this. My actual work requires me to be on the computer, but I definitely get out and do a lot of things. I mainly save the PC for nighttime.
45 minutes seems like enough time to meet some pedophiles and buy illegal drugs online.
It would depend on computer speed, age and behavior of child and whether anyone else in the household needed to use the computer.
I like what they have. It’s a great idea. I would up it as a reward for doing chores or for doing well on tests or something. I would also increase it as they got older. I think the time they set for their daughter is perfect for someone in junior high and younger. As they grow up, I think I would increase it a bit depending on some of the circumstances.
Thats fair and reasonable. Nowadays you don’t see many kids playing outdoors! No wonder America is getting so FAT!
I agree with Mr Windows there. Completely.
id say that sounds about right. when i was a kid i was limited on not only computer time, but also tv time. i was allowed 2 hours of tv/video game time a day. but that was kind of ineffective since that was just what i was personally allowed to watch i could sit there all night watching tv if my dad had the remote. so it didnt really work.
oh man! i can’t stand the irony here! i just can’t! there’s so much irony, its annoying!
None.
how old’s the child? I think its reasonable to limit time but the amount of time depends on the age…if its elementary school, then thats good, but i think it should be increased in jr high.
the internet is my life as of now. i guess since their kid is so young, that time seems okay, but wait til she starts using it for music and chatting and stuff….
We do an hour a day, but that gets sticky with so many kids. Buddy often wants to watch each person (and perhaps “help”) play their hour. . .Not to mention any time that he watches his Dad play. Then we resort to ‘taking turns.’ –an hour a day, every third day. Of course now little Natty likes to play too, so it may be every 4th day! I’m really not that strict all the time, but sometimes I have to rein it in when they abuse it.
NONE. Kids should be locked up in cages.
NO! EW! I need my computer! ..unfortunately?
Such things depend on the child’s age maturity level their level in school and other factors it should however be limited and I would guess that those levels would probably be about right. I have noticed that many people are unable to do rather simple academic work without a computer’s assistance which is saddening to me. I feel like if you cannot do it without the computer’s help then you can’t do it at all. I tend to pull out my calculator too often myself. Games on the computer only decrease a person’s sociability and the amount of time people spend with other people outside of school is very limited.
Man, that’s like Michael Jordan telling his son to “put that ball down and get off the court–haven’t you played enough basketball today!!??”
I think it depends on the kid.
If the kid gets all his/her homework done in a proper manner, the kid should be allowed a couple of hours before bedtime or something like that.
Heh, as long as I get my homework done it’s no big deal around here.
It’s not like I’m antisocial or anything, honestly. I talk to my friends a lot on the computer. And besides, it’s not like if I was only allowed an hour a day on the computer I wouldn’t be spending the time playing outside or being active. I never have been one to play outside, even when I was little. Almost all the other kids in my neighborhood that I would be playing with are really immature are jerky and stupid (and the oldest of them is a year younger than me, and acts like she’s about nine). Except for the ones who are three years older than I am and either graduated or are about to.
If I were only allowed 45 minutes a day of computer time, I’d probably spend the rest of the time on the phone or watching TV or playing video games or reading. Not much would really change, except I’d be really peeved for about a month. =P
I live on the computer. I use it to update on news and current events, to communicate with friends, to listen to (and get) music, to do work, and just to pass the time when I’m bored. I don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s better than video games or TV because I’m least I’m being updated on world events and still being at least somewhat “social” with my friends by communicating with them.
Posted 2/22/2007 2:10 PM by collision_kiss
Thank you.
My parents put a four hour limit on my AOL account. Even though I think four hours is more than enough computer time, I’m not exactly telling my parents that!
how old is their daughter?
I think it’s awesome when rich people show how much of a clue they have. Guys like Donald Trump show how big of idiots they can be, and guys like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates show what a lot of intelligence and a little savvy can do for a person.
that’s a really good idea, actually. I suppose that it depends on the child- and weather or not they will always max out their hours at the computer. I don’t think children under 5 should ever watch TV or play on the computer though.
I’m on the computer an hour and a half at least everyday sometimes including homework. I do lots on the computer like download music, post here, myspace etc. I don’t think its too much.
As long as the time isn’t rediculously long and homework is finished, it doesn’t really matter.
That amount sounds about right.
That’s the same amount of time my brothers get. Excpept I think they get an hour and a half on the weekends. I get three hours a day, seven days a week. And I use it all, except for when I’m not home.
I guess it depends on the kid. My brothers only use the computer for games, and now for the older of the two, MySpace and AIM as he just turned thirteen. But yeah. I spend almost that entire time writing on Xanga, researching random things, refreshing my MySpace, and holding intelligent AIM conversations that I could not do without in life. *shrug*
well, ideally, i’d give it to them as a reward… perhaps, 2-3 hours of playtime if they got all their homework done and did everything i asked of them…
actually, as an exercise in independance, i’d let them take the initiative to BUILD their own computer with their own money which they’ll earn at no expense of me, and thatll be their property to do whatever they wish…
i’d still advise, but in that case it’s their choice… if it came to my computer, i’d be restrictive to an amount of time after they were to do as i asked them too…
24 hours.
I wish that’d work for my 11 yr old brother… no amount of discipline could cut his “personal” computer time in half.
sounds about right to me- i give my kids 30 minutes a day
It’s reasonable. Limitations are good because sometimes, kids lose track of time when they’re having fun!
Uhh I dont think I will limit my kids’ time on the internet…As long as they are healthy (not lazy), getting good grades, respectful, and socialable, then I dont see any problem with kids bein on the computer.
haha if only i wasnt such a fat ass
1:30 on weekdays and 2-2:30 on weekends
45 minutes is just plain too little. *shrug* don’t they want their kid to follow in her parent’s footsteps?
depends on your child’s self-control.
Sounds like Bill has a good idea.
I would think an hour is fine. Of course, that depends on the family. For us, it is the major link to the outside world. It is how we keep up with everyone. It is also our entertainment besides the television. I am assuming the Bill Gates and his wife are able to go out and find entertainment wherever and whenever they want. I give them credit for being good parents.
-_- Why is this news? Every decent parent needs to limit their children. I don’t care to estimate moderate times right now.
Depends on what purpose they have for being on it in the first place.
My Brothers doing pretty well with only 4 hrs. weekday and skys the limit on weekends.
I use the computer aprox. 1 hr. a day if I use a computer at all because I’m a slow typer.
a little more than that
I would like to say that there shouldn’t be a rule for me, but there probably should because I spend waaaaaaaay too much of my time on xanga and other sites…
Depends on how old the kid is. But if she’s young, then the Gates’ sound like they’re doing good.
my mom says she gives me 2 hrs,
but i usually go on at least like 5 hrs anyway
I agree there should be limitations. Kids should be outside playing, socializing and interacting with other kids in a real environment.
Yes, Computer time need to be rained in… Too much can happen on the computer even for adults..
Blessings,
Kim
it depands on the purpose of their child using the computer and their age…
My kids are grown, so I’ll pass.
I probably spend way too much time on the ‘puter. I use it for both work and play . . . and the two blur together a lot.
It totally depends what they’re doing. I don’t watch t.v so I spend my time on the compie reading shit on wikipedia and celebrity gossip blogs.
And I’m awake when a lot of people aren’t so whatevers.
plus since she’s bill gates daughter she can probably, you know… go ride on a space ship or something instead
My time’s up now.
as long as they damn well please!
I think it depends on how they use it, I honestly wish my parents would limit mine to two hours. I’d probably get a lot more work done.
I think that sounds about right. My dad used to do that to me and I got used to it. I can’t stay on the computer (that’s not related to homework) for more than an hour, I get bored. It’s good that he’s trying to get them to do other things beside sitting on their bum in front of a screen all day; helps them to be more outgoing.
My mom never limited my computer time…b/c I knew how to get my homework done, even if she didn’t like that I wouldn’t always do it before I “played”.
Sounds like simple resistance to change; the early throes of a dying culture.
The incoming world is information based. Not only would it be difficult to restrain members of my generation from computer use, it’d be completely impossible.
That’s about the same as what my parents use to do when I was kid.
that sounds good.
As much as they want, provided that they can balance it with schoolwork and other things effectively.