<![CDATA[Kids' computer usage]]>Seeing my PSLE nephew’s obsession with computer games, it made me wonder what are other parents’ practise. All of us are very worried about his results as he is exhibiting a bochap attitude despite being sent for those thousands of dollars motivational camp. I understand from his parents that he is allowed to play the computer on a daily basis so long as he finished his work. We are calling out to his parents to keep his computer till PSLE is over.


In our case, we only allow our kids to play computer games during school holidays (not even weekends). The only exception is when their cousins are at our place and they play together. That is at most once a month. But if they have online homework, then yes, they are allowed to use the computer.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/8914/kids-computer-usageRSS for NodeTue, 23 Jun 2026 15:19:37 GMTWed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:44 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:58:14 GMT]]>

jedamum:
no he didn't, but i felt so guilty and i allowed him to use 30min of computer today (still under 'playing with bro' activity cos he played the 2 player game with his bro). :oops:

You have good boys lah, jedamum 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/289057https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/289057Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:58:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:35:22 GMT]]>

RRMummy:


:lol: :lol: :lol: So did he bug you for any of those after that?
no he didn't, but i felt so guilty and i allowed him to use 30min of computer today (still under 'playing with bro' activity cos he played the 2 player game with his bro). :oops:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288860https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288860Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:35:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:12:28 GMT]]>

jedamum:
Conversation overheard...


Friend : hey, do you have friendster?
Son : huh? no. (he must be thinking, what's that :lol: )
Friend : how about facebook?
Son : no. (he knows that cos i have facebook account)
Friend : then do you play computer games at home?
Son : no. I don't play computer games at home.
Friend (in disbelief) : then what do you do at home?!
Son : I do my homework, do reading, watch tv and play with my brother.
Friend :!: : your life very boring leh. i get to play computer games at home everyday.
Son : I don't find it boring cos i'm used to it already.

lolz. think my son want to save some face. :lol:

Hahaha! Your son is cool! I couldnt have thought of a better answer myself!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288262https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288262Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:12:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:08:20 GMT]]>

jedamum:
Conversation overheard...


Friend : hey, do you have friendster?
Son : huh? no. (he must be thinking, what's that :lol: )
Friend : how about facebook?
Son : no. (he knows that cos i have facebook account)
Friend : then do you play computer games at home?
Son : no. I don't play computer games at home.
Friend (in disbelief) : then what do you do at home?!
Son : I do my homework, do reading, watch tv and play with my brother.
Friend :!: : your life very boring leh. i get to play computer games at home everyday.
Son : I don't find it boring cos i'm used to it already.

lolz. think my son want to save some face. :lol:
Good on your son. I believe at some point when they get used to their routine. They are fine with ir.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288256https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288256Wed, 03 Nov 2010 02:08:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:53:28 GMT]]>

jedamum:
Conversation overheard...

Son : I don't find it boring cos i'm used to it already.

lolz. think my son want to save some face. :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: So did he bug you for any of those after that?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288230https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288230Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:53:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:38:22 GMT]]>Conversation overheard...


Friend : hey, do you have friendster?
Son : huh? no. (he must be thinking, what's that :lol: )
Friend : how about facebook?
Son : no. (he knows that cos i have facebook account)
Friend : then do you play computer games at home?
Son : no. I don't play computer games at home.
Friend (in disbelief) : then what do you do at home?!
Son : I do my homework, do reading, watch tv and play with my brother.
Friend :!: : your life very boring leh. i get to play computer games at home everyday.
Son : I don't find it boring cos i'm used to it already.

lolz. think my son want to save some face. :lol:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288046https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/288046Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:38:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:45:29 GMT]]>

lovekidsverymuch:
Yeah I agree my DS now 5 yrs wanna play lotsa games but then he enjoys doing the phonics too

I think it is very difficult not to let kids use computer or play computer games. It is like TV, kids can be addicted to TV too, but we cannot totally block them from watching.
And certain educational websites are very useful for kids' learning.

I guess we will have to understand how the kids use computer.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/130706https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/130706Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:45:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:25:25 GMT]]>

worryfather:
Hahaha..


chief, I think not many parents here has the IT KungFu you have.
Are you expert in IT Security?
ChiefKiasu:

I set my firewall to allow only Internet access to sites other than his school's website and Wikipedia after 6pm at night on weekdays. I don't allow him to install anything on his computer. So there's no way my son can bypass and do online gaming while we are not around.

Yah this sounds very very cheem to my hubby and me. I told him about this friewall thing on website but both of us were like :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/127717https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/127717Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:25:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:00:39 GMT]]>Hahaha..


chief, I think not many parents here has the IT KungFu you have.
Are you expert in IT Security?

ChiefKiasu:
I set my firewall to allow only Internet access to sites other than his school's website and Wikipedia after 6pm at night on weekdays. I don't allow him to install anything on his computer. So there's no way my son can bypass and do online gaming while we are not around.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/127698https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/127698Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:00:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:09:24 GMT]]>

Busymom:
DH thinks it is a good idea to let DS who just turns 3 to play some educational games on computer. I am less convinced about the benefits and wonder if it would encourage an addiction to computer games in future. In fact, these days DS would always ask if he could play on the computer when we are at home at night.


Any comments?
Personally I think it's fine for the 3 yr old to access to educational websites. Eg. starfall to learn phonics. All these are interactive and educational. We did that with our K1 when she was younger and she enjoys playing those educational games.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/126200https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/126200Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:09:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:07:43 GMT]]>DH thinks it is a good idea to let DS who just turns 3 to play some educational games on computer. I am less convinced about the benefits and wonder if it would encourage an addiction to computer games in future. In fact, these days DS would always ask if he could play on the computer when we are at home at night.


Any comments?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/126199https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/126199Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:07:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:19:18 GMT]]>

titank:

Wow maybew the kids are future \"Hackers\"? Then even you put tons of firewall also no use. :!:

Just an average teenager. They shared tips & tools with their friends and learn from internet :roll:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125366https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125366Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:19:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:56:28 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
tankee:

and that's what my IT colleague did and thought too until he was proven otherwise by his elder boy.


Ahh... maybe his IT Kungfu is not strong enough 🙂

Or the IT Kungfu was passed on to the boy liao... 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125341https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125341Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:56:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:09:25 GMT]]>my boy is quite obsessed with playing game now. I stopped him, after sometimes, I relax and started to let him play National Geographic game and now he keeps asking for more now. :x

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125287https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125287Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:09:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:59:25 GMT]]>

tankee:
heard that his boy initially by-passed the firewall using some download tool. When that was discovered and blocked, his boy booted up the PC using thumb-drive. Then that was discovered and blocked ...


I do not know what is the current state of the \"arm-race\" ...
Wow maybew the kids are future \"Hackers\"? Then even you put tons of firewall also no use. :!:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125276https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125276Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:59:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:05:06 GMT]]>heard that his boy initially by-passed the firewall using some download tool. When that was discovered and blocked, his boy booted up the PC using thumb-drive. Then that was discovered and blocked …


I do not know what is the current state of the "arm-race" …

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125168https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125168Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:05:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:55:16 GMT]]>

tankee:
and that's what my IT colleague did and thought too until he was proven otherwise by his elder boy.

Ahh... maybe his IT Kungfu is not strong enough 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125166https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125166Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:55:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:29:30 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
I set my firewall to allow only Internet access to sites other than his school's website and Wikipedia after 6pm at night on weekdays. I don't allow him to install anything on his computer. So there's no way my son can bypass and do online gaming while we are not around.


and that's what my IT colleague did and thought too until he was proven otherwise by his elder boy.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125150https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125150Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:29:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:29:09 GMT]]>I set my firewall to allow only Internet access to sites other than his school’s website and Wikipedia after 6pm at night on weekdays. I don’t allow him to install anything on his computer. So there’s no way my son can bypass and do online gaming while we are not around.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125133https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/125133Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:29:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:19:15 GMT]]>

titank:
Radin Mas is very strong in IT & I don't think able to stick to just school holiday. Maybe weekend to a certain time limit on the computer.[/color]

I think I am fine with using computer to do those online homework or do email. I think this is acceptable. I don't think we should limit on such purpose. But I feel that we must limit on playing games.

I observed that in my nephews' case, they are \"obsessed\" with those online computer games. My son too but I try to limit him and he knows my \"rules\". I told him it's a big NO NO for him to play such games which I felt that it has fighting contents since the focus is to kill someone/ something. During hols, if I am home, I told them to be selective with games too eg. those games in BC website,etc.... I am ok but not too much of those fighting games.... Just remind me of the NTU undergrad who stab the lecturer.... But school days with those fighting or sometimes even FB games are out. As once you achieve a certain level, you want to try to hit the next... It's never ending quest for \"better scores\".

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/124914https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/124914Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:19:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Kids' computer usage on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:12:54 GMT]]>

MMM:
Seeing my PSLE nephew's obsession with computer games, it made me wonder what are other parents' practise. All of us are very worried about his results as he is exhibiting a bochap attitude despite being sent for those thousands of dollars motivational camp. I understand from his parents that he is allowed to play the computer on a daily basis so long as he finished his work. We are calling out to his parents to keep his computer till PSLE is over.


In our case, we only allow our kids to play computer games during school holidays (not even weekends). The only exception is when their cousins are at our place and they play together. That is at most once a month. But if they have online homework, then yes, they are allowed to use the computer.
Hi MMM,

I also have the same problem whether should I restrict to computer & internet usage just during the school holidays rather than weekend?

Radin Mas is very strong in IT & I don't think able to stick to just school holiday. Maybe weekend to a certain time limit on the computer.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/124910https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/124910Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:12:54 GMT