I am so amazed and surprised that my 8 year old is complying and complying better than I am! And the atmosphere at home is great, I am not so tense and I am actually getting to bed before midnight. Although, I must admit… I snuck some TV time last night after my 8 year old went to bed.

And he certainly had less of a digital upbringing than I did!

I think it is the amount of time you spend on it and the types of games you play. I was addicted to the Ms. Pac Man type games…and Tetris and Lolo. Not the blood and guts things so much.

But I think it is more detrimental for a child who is developing than for an adult who has pretty much formed their views on the world.

Sometimes my girls talk all day long, to the point of having sore jaws! It seems that we’re always engaged in conversation. We even have to force ourselves to shut up when letterboxing because all the critters flee long before we enter the area.

I have to agree about desensitization with regards to television and movies. I’ve warned my kids that when they live on their own they’ll be faced with some real trash on tv and in movies. I told them that they’ll be shocked and understand why we never allowed it in our house. I hope that they’ll appreciate our stand on that issue. Don’t get me wrong, we do watch tv and movies, and even play video games, however, we’re extremely selective on what we choose to watch and play. I know people that have their tvs on constantly, and the thought of turning off the junk never enters their mind. Maybe they think they’ll miss something if they do turn it off?

And I have to agree that online homeschoolers tend to give the perception of leading perfect lives. I feel so inadequate at times because my family and I are just ordinary people. My blogging world is limited and I tend to just share basics of our day. I’ve even been known to vent a little bit from time to time, but it’s mostly about stuff we’re doing or things that I’m thinking about. I won’t hang my dirty laundry up for everyone to see, but I’m not afraid to admit that I’m not perfect.

And now I’m just rambling………

I would bet that someone like me who was fully socially developed before computers came into my life is different than children and teens spending time playing role playing games instead of playing outdoors with real children who react in more human ways to socialization.

In other words I think the two things are like comparing apples to oranges.

My blogging life and email based homeschool support groups are different than face to face friendships. However I communicate online with some people I know and see in the real world. The two things enhance each other.

I’d like to add also that I am seeing teens and young 20’s people acting very differently even when in the presence of each other in real life. While at a restaurant last week I saw, while waiting for a table, two males and one female (friends). One male was having a cell phone conversation. The other male was text messaging someone the entire time. THe female was playing a video game on her cell phone. None of them were socializing with EACH OTHER which was the reason they were out to dinner together.

While in Wash DC last week I saw many teens on field trips. Many were on iPods or text messaging or fiddling with cell phones (not talking) instead of socializing with their peers.

One family had 3 teen siblings and all 3 were doing text messages, sitting with their mother, instead of anyone talking to each other.

And one mom crossing the street had an iPod on and not talking while her 11 and 12 year old daughter’s walked in silence.

While driving through four different cities in 3 states this month I saw people of all ages and ethnicicites plugged into devices. Even those crossing busy streets were not watching where they were walking let alone watching out for their safety.

But now I’m rambling…………..