How much time should a teenager be allowed to spend on the computer?

Question

My teenage son is on his computer all day and all night, I try to get him to go out with friends or find something constructive to do.. he continually says there is nothing going on, and everyone sits on the conmputer all day and all night. I know he isnt doing anything wrong, mostly fantasy sports but doesnt seem normal to me.. I would appreciate any parents advise on this issue

Answer 1

As long as it isn't keeping him from his chores or school work during the school year things like that and he's not on sites he should not be on you should just keep trying to encourage him to do things more active, monitor what his looking up and introduce him to some more educational sites he might find intresting. He sounds like a pretty good kid. think of the alternative he could be out drinking and doing drugs.

Answer 2

My girlfriend's 16 yr old does the same thing...the child is obese and lazy (he's a good kid, but he's obese and lazy)...I don't think being glued to a computer all day is healthy at all...they are GREAT machines, and some time each day is fine (just like our parents used to let us watch "x" amoutn of TV) but find a number that works and stick to it (4 hours a day maybe?) and then encourage him to get outdoors...ride a bike, mow the lawn, take a walk, go for a swim, whatever activities are available...even read a book indoors or something to expand his mind and get his eyes off that glaring screen...

He'll find things to do and friends to do 'em with, if he's now allowed to spend his entire day on the 'puter...have no fear...

Answer 3

It's an unfortunate way of life for many teens who are not active in sports or clubs. To insure he stay safe on line move the computer to an open area of the house (living room or kitchen) Don't ask his permission. Just do it. Right now his use may include only innocent surfing but given enough time and privacy this could change to inappropriate sites that include gambling or adult only sites. Start incouraging him to invite kids over. Offer to buy pizza. A lot of teen boys enjoy card games. Also important for male teens to have strong male role models to interact with. Good luck.

Answer 4

I think you need to set some ground rules. Offer computer time as a reward for doing chores or homework or whatever. Computer should also be in a 'public' spot in the house not in his room. I would say one hour a weekday is plenty. Give him like 3 hours a day on the weekend but not all at once. Good luck.

Answer 5

I think that your son should only go on the computer 1 hour a weekday and 4 hours on weekends. Study or do something productive during the remaining time. Thats whats makes good grades.

Answer 6

I think 2 hours a day is plenty of time. A teenager should be out with "real" people, as opposed to fantasy athletes.

Answer 7

You should not give him a time limit but he should not be on it that much. Just tell him to get off you are the adult and what you says goes. Tell him to call someone or something, get him involved at church, school groups something that gets him off the computer. Also spend some more time w/ him and that will not only get him off but get you guys closer.

Answer 8

no more than 1 to 2 hours per day then pull the plug. if he won't leave it alone then remove it or lock the computer with a password study time and friends need to come before internet/games
don't forget to set the timer

Answer 9

1 hour supervised - I think all children using a computer should only have one hour a day and a responsible parent supervising them.

Answer 10

1 hour tops. Sounds like your son has no social life. That doesn't sound healthy. You are the parent, start parenting.