| With every subject there are generally two sides to | | | | becoming a monster. And certainly the computer is |
| consider. The good side and the bad. Of course when | | | | food for that monster of selfishness inside each child. |
| looking at computers and such gadgets we could talk | | | | Concern for others. Never. Observing that others exist. |
| about the good side to no end. How could the added | | | | No way. Being responsible for what might be |
| valuable technical precision to engineering, | | | | happening around you. You must be kidding! Protecting |
| telecommunications, fighter aircraft, industrial robots, | | | | another child younger, or needing assistance. Don't |
| etc., be ever fully described or appreciated; Besides | | | | bother me! You don't really exist in the mind of a child |
| the many multitasking capabilities added to everything | | | | engrossed in their computer game. The loss of the |
| imaginable. As we said, the list on the good side could | | | | ability to care is a seriously costly item being paid by |
| go on and on. But there is the other side - the bad. | | | | our children for their computers. |
| And it seems that with all the wonder of this invaluable | | | | #5. Character. Perhaps, the most costly loss of all is |
| and addictive, manipulating data tool we are | | | | this one. Some one has said, "the character is like |
| overlooking or totally ignoring the fact that there is a | | | | white paper; if once blotted, it can hardly ever be |
| bad side. And all the while it is having a serious effect | | | | made to appear white as before." Another said, "our |
| on our children. | | | | character is but the stamp on our souls of the free |
| So how is it affecting our children-what are computers | | | | choices of good and evil we have made through life." |
| costing them? If we take the time to really consider it, | | | | The "blots" caused by the free choices of evil that is |
| no doubt this list might become quite lengthy as well. | | | | made available to our children through their computer |
| Although, we are aware of the many dollars that are | | | | interactivity is coloring their mind's perspective of what |
| spent for various items, the "cost" we are speaking of | | | | is good and pure. Pre-computer children, with caring, |
| is far more detrimental than that of our spending | | | | pre-computer parents - who protected their children, |
| (wasting) money on another trinket. Cost is what ever | | | | maintained their children's innocence. Thus, |
| we are willing to give, to expend, or exchange for that | | | | pre-computer children knew nothing of the outrageous, |
| which we consider worthy. Much of what computers | | | | secretive, evil, subculture madness that children now |
| are costing our children may easily come to mind if | | | | have at their fingertips. All they have to do is simply, |
| you take the time to even casually observe many of | | | | click - their innocence is stolen - their character is |
| today's younger generation. | | | | blotched - their ability to function normally is smothered |
| #1. Contentment. Perhaps the most noticeable cost to | | | | with guilt - their future is already plundered. |
| our children is the loss of contentment. No longer are | | | | These are only five areas that are costly to our |
| children content to spend hours playing ordinary boy/girl | | | | children. I'm sure we could quickly think of many more, |
| games. Little girls, pre-computer, played with their dolls | | | | even those starting with "C" such as conduct, |
| and dreamed of the day when they would be a real | | | | courtesy, concentration. But more important is what |
| mommy. They played outside and made "mud-pies" | | | | are we going to do about it? Future generations may |
| pretending to be a real cook like their mommy. They | | | | be at stake. |
| enjoying the breeze blowing in their face as they spent | | | | Perhaps, the answer can be found with us adults |
| time swinging. Little boys, pre-computer, played | | | | considering our computer activities in light of what they |
| "Cowboys and Indians," or built tree houses. You name | | | | are costing us. Have we lost focus. How are we doing |
| it whether boy or girl they could play either alone, or | | | | in the area of: |
| with a group of other children contentedly for hours. | | | | #1. Contentment? Are we living an example of |
| But no longer, the only thing they are interested in is | | | | contentment before our children? If not, it may cost the |
| one more computer game -- whatever is being | | | | spiritual development of our children "...godliness with |
| advertised or what they have seen someone else | | | | contentment is great gain" I Timothy 6:6. |
| have. The loss of contentment is a costly item being | | | | #2. Communicating? Are we communicating with them |
| paid by our children for their computers. | | | | and teaching them to properly communicate with us, |
| #2. Communication. Many parents in our culture may | | | | and others? If not, it may cost the social development |
| not have noticed the important loss of communication- | | | | of our children "Be not deceived: evil communications |
| because they have also lost it due to their addiction to | | | | corrupt good manners" I Corinthians 15:33. |
| computers. But pre-computer, children were interested | | | | #3. Creativity? Are we creative - or do we have to |
| in other things, thus, they could and would talk about | | | | have the latest gadget for every little project we think |
| those things to whomever would lend an ear. The loss | | | | of starting? If so, it may cost the intellectual |
| of the ability to properly communicate is a costly item | | | | development of our children "He that diligently seeketh |
| being paid by our children for their computers. | | | | good procureth favour" Proverbs 11:27. |
| #3. Creativity. At first thought you might think that the | | | | #4. Caring? Do we care - are we concerned about |
| games children play on their computers are creative. | | | | others, their needs, wants, wishes -- above what we |
| But we are speaking of the children's loss of their | | | | want? Do we take the time to show it? If not, it may |
| ability to be creative. They no longer are able to | | | | cost the moral development of our children "Give, and |
| formulate original thought. They know well how to click, | | | | it shall be given unto you....for with the same measure |
| click, click. But original thought - being imaginative to | | | | that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" |
| create something out of little -they have lost that ability. | | | | Luke 6:38. |
| Children, pre-computer, were creative. They found | | | | #5. Character? Do we participate in activities that |
| ways to come up with, or create a needed item in | | | | damages our true character - even our very soul? |
| order to continue their imaginative playtime activity. It | | | | Would we be ashamed if our private computer |
| may have been a stick that a little boy whittled on | | | | activities were made public? If we would, it may cost |
| awhile and created a spear, or a scarf that a little girl | | | | the future success of our children "He that hath no rule |
| folded just so to magically create two cuddly dolls | | | | over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, |
| wrapped up to hold close. No matter, they used their | | | | and without walls" Proverbs 25:28. |
| creativity to come up with what they wanted. The loss | | | | Have we, like our children, allowed all our electronic |
| of creativity is a costly item being paid by our children | | | | trinkets to put us into a WIIFM (what's in it for me) |
| for their computers. | | | | mode? If so, perhaps, we will only salvage some of |
| #4. Caring. We live in a self-focused, me'ism, world. | | | | what computers and other such gadgets are costing |
| Children are no exception. We all are born with a | | | | our children, when we take a serious look at what |
| selfish nature and we need little to feed it into | | | | they are costing us. |