I have three daughters. They are not old enough to have computers of their own yet, but I was wondering how many of you have kids with computers in their rooms. Had any problems? I'm thinking about just keeping one computer in a very public area of the house so we can monitor what they are doing. You just can't be too careful today, especially with girls! Of course I'll have a laptop eventually so that I won't have to share with three teen girls, lol. What have you all (with older children) done as far as the computer goes? Thanks!
2006-06-18 14:49:35 · 22 answers · asked by dixi 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
My kids are 13 and 9. Neither has a computer in their room, nor will they. First, even the most well-behaved kids who are mature and intelligent are still just kids. They're naieve and unaware of all of the ways that freaks online could find them.
We have two computers set up, and the kids can use either; I'm not standing over them while they're using it, but I'm around and they know it.
Another thing to consider is that while it's normal for teenagers to spend most of their time avoiding their parents, if you put a TV and a computer and god knows what else in their rooms, it makes it far too easy for them to hole up in their rooms and have absolutely NO communication with their parents.
Just my two cents.
2006-06-20 02:41:44 · answer #1 · answered by circe 3 · 10⤊ 2⤋
My boys were not permitted computers in their rooms until they were 18...until then, we had one "family" computer which was kept in the family room. The computer faced out into the room so that anyone in the room or walking past could see what was on it. My husband and I had our own laptops.
Once they were 18, they were each given a computer for Christmas and they have had them in their rooms since. At 18, they are adults.
We knew all the dangers to minors via the computer so we used parental blocks but still monitored everything they were doing. As they got to be 15, we explained the dangers, eased up on some blocks but still monitored. We hoped that by 18, they would be fully informed and careful users due to our monitoring and open communications. They have never resented that we monitored them...probably because we did explain our rationale.
2006-06-18 15:00:24 · answer #2 · answered by ilse72 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, I didn't get my own computer till I think 8th grade. That's when I really started needing one for papers, informations, all kinds of things. That was also when I really started wanting to stay in close touch with all of my friends more. So really, I would say, I that I don't think it matters as much how old they are, but how responsible they are. Make sure they know good and well not to give out any personal information or to sign up for a million free offers from popups and things.
Internet can be a very helpful thing, but can also be dangerous. I use it to do bible studies and I even have a bible thing that I downloaded that I use. But then again, theres also many nasty people out there.
If they do get their own computers, either don't hook it up to the internet, or just set it up to only be able to work with a password that only the parents know and preferably be set up to only connect for 'x' amount of time.
2006-06-18 14:57:12 · answer #3 · answered by Pyr0 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely right. Computers should be somewhere and monitored. I walked into a fifth grade classroom and saw a student watching a video of a naked, morbidly obese woman. Now this was on a network that was supposed to have a filter. Can you imagine what would go on if it was in a bedroom? While I was assisting students searching for the White House, I found us on a porn site. And monitored doesn't mean , in the room.
2006-06-18 15:00:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way. Our home is small, but the family computer stays in the livingroom - right next to the tv. We do not watch much television, so this is rarely a problem. The only bedroom I would consider putting a family computer in is my room. As the parent I want to know when someone is using the computer in this house. But even i don't want to be barged in on if somebody wants to look something up.
2016-05-20 01:11:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my parents never let me or my brother have a computer in our room, for 2 reasons, 1 we could not aford one. 2 because of the dangers of the internet. but now we have one, we have a laptop, and wireless internet. we are also 18 and 16. so our parents trust us a little bit more. and they keep a eye on what we do. but i have 2 younger siblings that wont have a cmputer in there room till they are 16 and 10, and the 10 year old will have to be wached all the time.
2006-06-18 15:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I'm a teenage girl so I just thought I'd tell you that my parents trust me completely and they gave me an old 1999 macintosh computer for use. My twin brother has a nicer computer in his room too, but he had to work harder for it. I think it's safe to say that if you trust your daughters and you check up on them every once in a while and check the Internet history that they could have a computer in their room. It's much more practical because so many people need to be on the computer for different things that just having your own makes things much more easier.
2006-06-18 14:55:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't let them have it in their room. No good comes of it... either they spend their ENTIRE time on the comp talking to friends via AIM or Yahoo, or doing something they maybe shouldn't...
Just an opinion... I was perfectly fine not having my own computer until I was over16 (I needed it constantly for school papers), and if I hadn't had so many papers to do, I wouldn't have needed it at all besides checking email or my website... Which I am perfectly fine with doing out in the open
2006-06-18 17:50:59 · answer #8 · answered by choirgirl1987 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kids both had each a computer in their room. We were just a materially comfortable family with lots of space. Looking back, I regret it. Not only did I find out that they wasted a lot of time on useless sites, but it killed family time. Where we lived and our kids went to school, that was the trend. We even had TVs in separate rooms. If you can go against the tide, then by all means do. Have them share one computer (and not your laptop) and place it where you spend a lot of time.
2006-06-18 14:59:32 · answer #9 · answered by browneyedgirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have family that has computers in their kids rooms and I have to suggest that its a bad idea, its easier to have them in a public common shared room so they can be seen. You never know what kids do on there or who might try to do something to them and we all know sometimes children give out more information they they are supposed too.
I think you doing the right thing by keeping it somewhere open.
2006-06-18 14:54:28 · answer #10 · answered by BrunettesRbetter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My son is not old enough for a computer, But everyone I know that have children old enough keep the computer in a location that they can see what the child is doing. It is the only way to know what is going on and to protect your child from all the dangers that are out there in the www
2006-06-18 14:53:53 · answer #11 · answered by janetg111 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋