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When I was a kid we didn't have computers or video games. We had to rely on our imagination to get us through the day. We usually went outside and made friends. With our imaginations working overtime, we would play tag, freeze tag, hide and seek, cops and robbers and red light, green light. We rode our bikes up and down the same sidewalk twelve million times or laid looking at the sky telling each other our opinion of what the clouds were shaped like.

In todays world, our children have other plans that fill their days. They will sit on the computer or playing video games for hours. The only thing that gets their attention away from that is if their cell phone rings or they get a text message.

Let's face it, it is hard to keep your children away from all the techie toys that are available today. Children need to be out playing with their friends. This is what sparks their imagination beyond anything else in the world. There are many things that these kids are missing out on. It's our job to steer them towards other things.

I am not sure that it is possible to completely keep kids unplugged from the computer world. They rely on it for research for school among the many other wonderful uses the computer age has brought to us. When we got a computer, my daughters grades went up tremendously because she could type it on the computer and research and print pictures online. My suggestion is not to try and keep them completely unplugged, but limit their time on the computer or their video games.

Here is a list of the ways you can accomplish this:

1. Give them a set time limit for use on the computer/video games. This still allows them to do what they need or want to do on the computer, but it also leaves time for them to do other constructive things like going out to play. My suggestion would be an hour. That was plenty of time for my children although they argued that point.

2. Your child doesn't need a computer of their own unless they are in college. Have a shared computer in your home instead. This way you won't be as apt to let your child stay on longer than the alloted time. The other thing this accomplishes is they won't be able to be on the computer at all hours of the night.

3. Help them discover the other things in life such as reading, drawing or painting. Again, you can't spark their imagination too much. There is no such thing.

4. Play board games. Board games are a great family activity. It's brings out conversations that you won't believe.

5. Get them into activities. Being part of a planned activity is great for your children. Girl/Boy Scouts, Young Marines or sports activities are all wonderful things for your children to do. They will make friends that will go through their lifetime with them.

The computer world is a fantastic thing. It has opened up whole new worlds for all of us. But you should lead by example when it comes to your children. If they see that you aren't stuck on the computer all the time, they will follow suit. Now, get off your computer and take your kids out to play.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Hawkins.
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