Are electronic devices as bad for children as everyone makes out?

I'm not sure I agree with the ADD/ADHD tie. The psychologists and education professionals I have spoken to agree that if a child can sit for hours playing a video game and do well at it are not typically ADHD. For a child to sit and progress through some of these games, ADHD would be a definite problem. These children cannot sit still or remain focused on the game or task. They become bored with it or just have to get up and move about. As for too much time spent causing obesity and lack of creativity, I have seen children who sit constantly in front of a tv and never gain an ounce, and seen children who are involved in all types of activities and sports who are overweight regardless of the amount of activity they engage in. I honnestly believe that for the majority of children, overeating and poor diet and poor eating habits are responsible for children becomming overweight. As far as the being creative, there are interactive game that require the children to build or design certain aspects of their characters or environment. This is making them learn to be creative. As far as the games aimed at pre-schoolers, I think those should be limited to short intervals. It seems to me that parents anymore are over-stimulating their children. They have them in preschools at 2, and some are even learning another language at that age. Then there are the gymnastics and play groups, swimming, you name it, they have them in it. Rather than spend that time with their children, they are pushing them off on others for them to teach their kids the very important social interaction they will need to be successfull adults.

I have seen many children who were not diagnosed with ADD until very late because people wrongly assumed that being able to stay on task, with certain tasks, meant that they don't meet the criteria for ADD. In fact, many children with ADD are able to stay focused and on task with things that they are very involved with, and things that are very stimulating, such as TV or video games. Being able to play games for hours does not automatically mean a person does not have ADD. As for the cause/effect relationship between video games and ADD, it occurs when young children have too much external stimulation, whether from games, electronic toys or TV. They become so dependent on all of that stimulation that they have a hard time staying focused on something that doesn't light up or talk to them. That leads to having trouble focusing in a classroom. The obesity issue, while there are exceptions, it is an undisputed Fact that lack of physical activity leads to weight gain. It is also a Fact that exercise is the most effective way to lose weight. Sitting and playing video games or watching TV all day, therefore, as opposed to getting up, moving around, and doing something physical, contributes to obesity, along with overeating and poor diet. I have seen some of the 'creative' options you mention, and choosing a hair color from about 5 choices is not encouraging creativity. That is, at best, decision making. Creativity means choosing from a box of 96 crayons which color hair to put on your picture, or maybe using yarn, or glitter, or any other material you can think of. Creativity means creating from imagination, not selecting from limited options. You are correct when you say parents are overstimulating their children. All of the activities you mention can be too much for a young child to handle, and TV and video games can be put in that category as well. Too much stimulation makes children stressed, which interferes with the ability to learn new things. It also makes children dependent on that high level of stimulation, and unable to be independent. I taught preshcool for several years before I had my son. I am educated in Early Childhood Education. Those games aimed at prescoolers and infants do nothing more than help children memorize, they do not give children an understanding of the concepts. And in fact, they take away a lot. They don't allow for children to have hands on experiences, they don't allow children to explore and discover. And they allow no room for imagination or creativity. Yes, children need to learn social skills, but they also need to learn to solve problems, to be independent, as well as work as part of a team. They need to learn how to learn and to love learning. The only way to do that is to put the games away and interact with them. Offer materials that they can see, feel, touch and manipulate. Ask questions that get them thinking. Video games have no place in the education of a preschooler.

I had a look at your link and I think that was a prime example of parents allowing too much time on games. Surely, if they hadn't have been so soft with the kids as regards his computer then that argument wouldn't have happened because he'd know he should turn it off. I know there are games that last for ages and sometimes you have certain points to save them but if someone gets that wound up about a computer game then there has to be something wrong. My partner is like that and it really upsets the rest of us because, not only is he ignoring everyone and sitting around all day, but then he's shouting because of a game as if it is important. Kids (and adults) should realise that computer games aren't important. They are there for entertainment and should be treated as such. As for the type of games, that also depends on the person. Some kids can play most types of games without it affecting them negatively in real life but some are not capable of seperating the two. Although they tend to be the kind of kids who are given computer games as baby sitters.