how to treat computer addicted ss

[rooo28]

hey all just a quick chat if anyone is about...

i have my sk's this weekend - dh is out toinght and all day tomorrow so it's me and my ds adn sk's.

I have cooked for all and bathed the little ones and am now relaxing infront of the tv / lap-top for a while.

Anyways my ss is playing computer in the other room - he has been playing for a few hours. The problem is that his social skills are really poor (under investigation) and he finds having a conversation or simply just sitting calmly to watch a film or programme tough. I dont know if i'm up for 'constant' 'tall-tale' type caht tonight but feel guilty he is in other room playing computer - he is 10,

opinions please if anyone is about xxx

Hi Rooo.

My SS will often lose himself playing computer games for hours. My DH and I limit the time for ss up to 45 min at a time just to give his eyes a break from looking at the screen.

Weeknights we limit computer time to 25 minutes per child for fun time unless they are working on a school report. Weekends up to an hour only. They earn extra time on the computer if they do their chores without giving us too much guff.

Times are different from when I grew up. My bro and I were always outside playing. We did not have computers growing up. The video games we did have were only played if it was raining otherwise, we were outside.

I will often kick my dsk outside to play before letting them on the computer. They groan and complain, but 10 minutes later, they are on their bikes or skatboards having a good time.

I know that the children's mom will let them spend all the time they want on the computer when they are visiting her. The children will come back to us, eyes incredible tired, from being up all night on the computer. She put a computer in each of their rooms. The computer acts as a babysitter, you see.

Not sure if I am of any help. Personally, the less time my dss spends on the computer, the better.

See my thread under teenagers entitled "ds is welded to laptop"

You are not alone We are all desperate as well!