teenagers, computers and violence

The everyday use of computers is an inevitable aspect of modern
life, but there are negative consequences as well.
As you may have noticed, children with a disorder that falls on the autism
spectrum seem to have an intense love of computers. I say this
somewhat cynically because in this case, computers can bring a lot more
than progress. Unfortunately, the frequent use of and time spent on
computers can spell big trouble for children with ADHD and autism.
It actually pains me to see the extent to which computers are taking over
our lives. I often hear myself saying, “If they only knew what effect this is
having!”
This does not mean I am against the use of computers! I have to confess
that even though I didn’t start to really appreciate the computer until a
rather mature age (I was in my thirties), I cannot imagine what life would
be like without them.
The other side of the coin, of course, is that computers rule the lives of
far too many adults and children. If we’re really honest with ourselves,
who can deny that many of us are as infatuated with computers as our
children?
The point of this article is that when it comes to children with ADHD and
autism, computers can actually make their condition worse.
I have been passionate about this subject for many years. Ten years ago
I was asked to write a chapter in a book on children and media. The
contents of the book showed what television does to the growing child.
My contribution dealt with the importance of movement and the role it
plays in learning.
In all my presentations since then, I explain to audiences what happens
to the developing brain when a child spends too much time in front of
computers, playing video games or watching television.
This time I am going to be even more direct. I realize that we take the
benefits of modern day comforts such as computers for granted and start
to become blind to their darker side. This is something I am guilty of as
much as anyone else. However, the following really ticked me off and is
the reason why I share these thoughts with you…
Over the last few weeks, a trend has been brought to my attention:
Schools have started to use tablet computers. This is happening not just
in high schools and middle schools, but in primary schools as well. Some
of the teachers that I see in my clinic have told me that in spite of
inadequate budgets, schools are prioritizing the use of iPads and other
tablet devices.
This was in regards to children aged 12-18 years. Yesterday, while
watching the news, there was a story about progress in schools through
the use of computers for teaching and assessment. The teachers were
very proud. This was for children in the age group of 6-12 years. And
they explained how this was clearly the way forward. They even
predicted that in a couple of years children would not have to write
anything anymore but would instead use the computer for everything in
school. This seemed logical to them since of the rest of society seems to
be moving in that direction.
Sounds like a good idea right?
Wrong!
They really weren’t asking the right questions. Yes, this is the way
society seems to be evolving. But this is also the worst idea anyone has
come up with since the days when smoking was considered to be
healthy for you!
Let me explain…
Computer usage engages your brain in a very particular kind of thinking.
Using a data machine makes your brain work in a linear way. You are
forced to think in a step-by-step fashion. Under normal circumstances,
this only happens for very short periods of time.
When you interact with your surroundings, for example when exercising
your social and emotional skills through conversation or dealing with
another person, you are making use of the parallel thinking parts of the
more emotional right side of the brain. Normally, this is also the part of
the brain that is used when learning a new concept or when you have to
attach meaning to or interpret something you have read or heard.
Sitting in class at school has a purpose. It helps you collect a lot of useful
information in a relatively short period of time. We are not, however,
made to just sit. We actually learn fastest when we are walking or are in
an upright position. This is part of why humans have the most evolved
brains. The capacity to walk upright is directly linked to the ability to think
at higher levels of cognition. Sitting at a desk, hunched over a tablet
device instead of at least having to adjust your posture to pay attention to
what is written on the board or what the teacher is saying, does not
improve normal physical activity. It actually makes it worse. This is why
physical education in schools needs more attention than anything else.
We take it for granted that everyone can deal and flourish with what we
humans have invented. This, in my opinion, is flawed thinking.
There is strong evidence that a significant number of children with a
condition on the autism spectrum display an over-reliance on the left side
of their brains. Their right-side, parallel-thinking brain is not used to its
full capacity and lags behind in development. The use of computers at
home or in the school will actually exacerbate this condition.
Just think about the situation in which you have to take your child with
ADHD or autism away from his or her computer, game or television. This
is usually a more dramatic event than with other children. Am I right?
You are taking them out of their comfort zone and into the real world
where their right brains have to interact with their surroundings,
something at which they are typically not as good as other children.
By now you can probably see why this article applies to everyone,
although in particular to our children with ADHD and autism.
Now comes the hard part. The only way to prevent the negative
consequences of the overuse of computers, television, gaming and
smartphones (which are also very linear and don’t involve real face-toface
interaction) is to put even stricter rules in place that limit the
intensity and amount of time children spend in front of screens.
In other words, computer rules! I can only begin to imagine what impact
that strictly abiding by such rules would have, both in negative and
positive ways.
Just in case the concept of using computers and the likely negative
effects it can have on ADHD and autism children needs reinforcement,
consider the following: Many experts have indicated that the rise of allday
television, gaming and computer use are somehow linked to the
epidemic increase we have seen in conditions such as ADHD and
autism.
I personally have seen too many negative effects from the use of
computers, televisions, gaming and smartphones in both my patient
population as well as in the own home with my own children. We tend to
ignore the possible negative consequences.
I have also observed the opposite as well. Changing these habits can
have a hugely positive effect on both the behavior and development of
children. Do what you have to do and start making stricter screen-time
rules.
I know this will not be easy, especially when schools often require work
to be completed on the computer. A common and probably workable rule
is to limit the total amount of computer, television, gaming and
smartphone time to a total of one-and-a-half or two hours per day, give
or take. It is also an excellent idea to make sure that actual screen time
is balanced out by an equal amount of time spent on physical activities in
the outdoors.
From personal experience I can tell you that following these rules will not
be easy! But I can also guarantee that it is in the best interest of your
child with ADHD and or autism, and isn’t that what you really want

The everyday use of computers is an inevitable aspect of modern
life, but there are negative consequences as well.
As you may have noticed, children with a disorder that falls on the autism
spectrum seem to have an intense love of computers. I say this
somewhat cynically because in this case, computers can bring a lot more
than progress. Unfortunately, the frequent use of and time spent on
computers can spell big trouble for children with ADHD and autism.
It actually pains me to see the extent to which computers are taking over
our lives. I often hear myself saying, “If they only knew what effect this is
having!”
This does not mean I am against the use of computers! I have to confess
that even though I didn’t start to really appreciate the computer until a
rather mature age (I was in my thirties), I cannot imagine what life would
be like without them.
The other side of the coin, of course, is that computers rule the lives of
far too many adults and children. If we’re really honest with ourselves,
who can deny that many of us are as infatuated with computers as our
children?
The point of this article is that when it comes to children with ADHD and
autism, computers can actually make their condition worse.
I have been passionate about this subject for many years. Ten years ago
I was asked to write a chapter in a book on children and media. The
contents of the book showed what television does to the growing child.
My contribution dealt with the importance of movement and the role it
plays in learning.
In all my presentations since then, I explain to audiences what happens
to the developing brain when a child spends too much time in front of
computers, playing video games or watching television.
This time I am going to be even more direct. I realize that we take the
benefits of modern day comforts such as computers for granted and start
to become blind to their darker side. This is something I am guilty of as
much as anyone else. However, the following really ticked me off and is
the reason why I share these thoughts with you…
Over the last few weeks, a trend has been brought to my attention:
Schools have started to use tablet computers. This is happening not just
in high schools and middle schools, but in primary schools as well. Some
of the teachers that I see in my clinic have told me that in spite of
inadequate budgets, schools are prioritizing the use of iPads and other
tablet devices.
This was in regards to children aged 12-18 years. Yesterday, while
watching the news, there was a story about progress in schools through
the use of computers for teaching and assessment. The teachers were
very proud. This was for children in the age group of 6-12 years. And
they explained how this was clearly the way forward. They even
predicted that in a couple of years children would not have to write
anything anymore but would instead use the computer for everything in
school. This seemed logical to them since of the rest of society seems to
be moving in that direction.
Sounds like a good idea right?
Wrong!
They really weren’t asking the right questions. Yes, this is the way
society seems to be evolving. But this is also the worst idea anyone has
come up with since the days when smoking was considered to be
healthy for you!
Let me explain…
Computer usage engages your brain in a very particular kind of thinking.
Using a data machine makes your brain work in a linear way. You are
forced to think in a step-by-step fashion. Under normal circumstances,
this only happens for very short periods of time.
When you interact with your surroundings, for example when exercising
your social and emotional skills through conversation or dealing with
another person, you are making use of the parallel thinking parts of the
more emotional right side of the brain. Normally, this is also the part of
the brain that is used when learning a new concept or when you have to
attach meaning to or interpret something you have read or heard.
Sitting in class at school has a purpose. It helps you collect a lot of useful
information in a relatively short period of time. We are not, however,
made to just sit. We actually learn fastest when we are walking or are in
an upright position. This is part of why humans have the most evolved
brains. The capacity to walk upright is directly linked to the ability to think
at higher levels of cognition. Sitting at a desk, hunched over a tablet
device instead of at least having to adjust your posture to pay attention to
what is written on the board or what the teacher is saying, does not
improve normal physical activity. It actually makes it worse. This is why
physical education in schools needs more attention than anything else.
We take it for granted that everyone can deal and flourish with what we
humans have invented. This, in my opinion, is flawed thinking.
There is strong evidence that a significant number of children with a
condition on the autism spectrum display an over-reliance on the left side
of their brains. Their right-side, parallel-thinking brain is not used to its
full capacity and lags behind in development. The use of computers at
home or in the school will actually exacerbate this condition.
Just think about the situation in which you have to take your child with
ADHD or autism away from his or her computer, game or television. This
is usually a more dramatic event than with other children. Am I right?
You are taking them out of their comfort zone and into the real world
where their right brains have to interact with their surroundings,
something at which they are typically not as good as other children.
By now you can probably see why this article applies to everyone,
although in particular to our children with ADHD and autism.
Now comes the hard part. The only way to prevent the negative
consequences of the overuse of computers, television, gaming and
smartphones (which are also very linear and don’t involve real face-toface
interaction) is to put even stricter rules in place that limit the
intensity and amount of time children spend in front of screens.
In other words, computer rules! I can only begin to imagine what impact
that strictly abiding by such rules would have, both in negative and
positive ways.
Just in case the concept of using computers and the likely negative
effects it can have on ADHD and autism children needs reinforcement,
consider the following: Many experts have indicated that the rise of allday
television, gaming and computer use are somehow linked to the
epidemic increase we have seen in conditions such as ADHD and
autism.
I personally have seen too many negative effects from the use of
computers, televisions, gaming and smartphones in both my patient
population as well as in the own home with my own children. We tend to
ignore the possible negative consequences.
I have also observed the opposite as well. Changing these habits can
have a hugely positive effect on both the behavior and development of
children. Do what you have to do and start making stricter screen-time
rules.
I know this will not be easy, especially when schools often require work
to be completed on the computer. A common and probably workable rule
is to limit the total amount of computer, television, gaming and
smartphone time to a total of one-and-a-half or two hours per day, give
or take. It is also an excellent idea to make sure that actual screen time
is balanced out by an equal amount of time spent on physical activities in
the outdoors.
From personal experience I can tell you that following these rules will not
be easy! But I can also guarantee that it is in the best interest of your
child with ADHD and or autism, and isn’t that what you really want