| Evidence suggests that children's listening skills | | | | annoying. Computers and televisions deliver |
| have degraded in recent years. Many studies | | | | sounds and visuals more entertaining than the |
| (such as ones listed in USA Today and MSNBC) | | | | sound of a nagging parent. However, are |
| conclude today's modern children suffer from a | | | | computer games and other 21st century |
| lowered attention span due to activities like | | | | influences to blame for these problems? |
| computer games and television. | | | | I do not know if computers games directly |
| Some parents think that discipline is the only | | | | contribute to poor listening - though research hints |
| solution. The problem is beyond discipline, | | | | at a correlation - but I do know that a lack of |
| however. Some children cannot fix their attention | | | | interaction develops poor listening skills. Computer |
| on one thing for long periods of time. They have | | | | games and similar gadgets cause children to |
| no chance to effectively listen when they cannot | | | | develop poor listening skills when their number of |
| build their focus and develop other fundamental | | | | interactions dwindle. Communication skills take |
| skills through interactions with peers and adults. | | | | practice. |
| Television and other solo activities fail to foster a | | | | Activities such as computer games are not evil. A |
| child's fundamental talking and listening skills. | | | | total ban is unnecessary, but moderation is |
| Children sit in front of a gaming console, | | | | required. Reducing the amount of electronic |
| computer, or television then become mind-slaves | | | | stimulation helps develop the child's social skills |
| to the device. They "switch off" their brain into | | | | because of more face-to-face interaction. In |
| the rapid, hypnotic pace these devices deliver. | | | | addition, it increases the chance of improving your |
| Computer games and other highly immersive | | | | child's health from less time spent sitting down. |
| activities require a high level of concentration and | | | | Follow President George Bush's cheeky advice |
| reasonable degree of skill to play. When | | | | when he said, "They put an off button on the TV |
| concentration and skill blend, time gets distorted | | | | for a reason. Turn it off." |
| to form an internal state of enjoyment behavioral | | | | While the 21st century may hurt a child's listening |
| psychologists call "flow". Most people who have | | | | skills, you can help your little one overcome |
| played a computer game will describe the flow | | | | communication difficulties presented by the |
| state when they say hours fly by in apparently a | | | | modern world. Help your children acquire vital |
| short period of time. | | | | communication skills most adults fail to develop. |
| Flow is more enjoyable than following Dad's | | | | Teach your child listening skills today to improve |
| orders. The change of pace from a Mario game, | | | | your family's togetherness and provide the child |
| for example, to listening to a parent complain | | | | with foundational communication skills that last a |
| about undone homework is slow, boring, and | | | | lifetime. |