For those who didn’t attend the class, we had a debate
based on a reading that pointed out to the idea of how technology is
intrinsically responsible for the obesity of today’s children. Among all the
ideas exposed, there was an idea that really called my attention and I would
like to expand and reflect on it a little bit.
At some point, I started wondering how a technological
device, such as WII, for example, could affect a child’s weight. Later, I
realized I hadn’t considered all the implications that were involved when playing
this kind of game: playing and eating all day long mostly –I must have
forgotten this insignificant detail, because I’m an old and decrepit man who
left behind video games so long time ago!
According to some experts, video games have a very
positive impact on children, because they are for entertaining and help to
develop their manual dexterity and computer literacy; otherwise, they encourage
aggressiveness and make the child addicted, inciting him to play for hours and
hours. But, are video games responsible for the consequences of this addiction?
Are video games the ones that feed the child when playing? Are they in charge
of raising him?
I do think technology is not the problem; the problem
is the use and function we assign it. Clearly then, I believe that parents are the
ones in charge of raising a child and it’s their duty to make him aware of what
is right and wrong; what to eat and what not to eat.
Do you agree with me?
I'm totally agree with you. The thing is that parents tend to leave their children with this new nanny: Technology, and as you said, it's parent's responsibility to take care their offspring. I know, nowadays parents are too busy at work, because the money is needed, but that shouldn't be an excuse for letting them do whatever they want, it's highly important to set rules and routines.
ReplyDeleteI would like to add that in terms of exercises routine, they are boring for most of the children, that's why I said that Wii was a possibility, but I've just read this article: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/wii-video-workouts-dont-beat-real-sports/ , even thought workout outside is better than playing games, still is an option for those who don't like to go out or whatever.