Excessive Internet use by children

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Some children watch the Internet excessively and miss time that can be utilized for more important purposes such as formal educational activities.
** From these children some limit their internet watching so that they can use that time for more valuable purposes when confronted and advised by parents and caretakers. But, others continue excessive watching and waste time even after repeated admonitions by parents and teachers.**
** Does this amount to Sin and can they be corrected without yelling and deterrence techniques?**
 
Couldn’t a parent just remove the phone or equivalent until the child has done their homework
 
If you’re trying to limit a child’s use of technology you’re going to have to create alternatives for that child. Usually, parents introduce technology in the first place because it keeps the child busy but after a while, the child begins to think that’s the only way to keep busy. You have to give them other tangible options. I speak from experience with my little brother who kinda has a screen addiction but is gradually getting better.
 
The kids are so bored that they spend every inch of their free time online–that is how isolated they are.

The internet is not a safe place to be bored on. If it cannot be corrected with discipline, then why not seek professional help.
 
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Zerg said:
The kids are so bored that they spend every inch of their free time online–that is how isolated they are.
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I am not a parent , but from families I am friendly with I know that the internet can have a very disturbing and negative effect on children , especially those in their teens .
 
Sports. Get children off their rear ends and doing something healthy. My kids had most of their time taken up between school, sports, and sleep.
 
Or the arts–music lessons. I would suggest piano/organ lessons, since so many parishes have no one to play the organ.

But there are other arts options. The music club (over a century old) in our city offers a “Rock Camp” every summer for children and teens (separated).

Also the visual arts and the performing arts. Lots of towns and cities have children’s theaters which are "pay to play,"meaning that you pay a fee, and the child has a part in whatever the production is. (It may be a small part, like being a tree, but it keeps the kid busy and they learn a lot during the rehearsals, and eventually, they’ll earn larger roles.)

And there are VBSs all around town. Some of them charge, some of them don’t. Some are Catholic but most are not, but just teach your child well, reach out to the VBS teachers, and perhaps even volunteer yourself (yes, at the Protestant church!) if you can spare the time.

A lot of churches have stopped doing VBS and offer an arts or sports “camp” instead. These are really nice and usually very cheap.

I realize that a lot of my ideas cost $$, but you can always ask, “Is there some kind of discount for needy families?” A lot of times, something can be worked out. Don’t make assumptions until you’ve asked.
 
Another option is to get the child involved with the closest local museum. Most museums have summer programs for children/teens, and the kids not only learn a lot, but get to help out.

And then here is the option of getting the children involved with a local charitable event. Many centuries ago, when I was a little girl, we had “Muscular Dystrophy Back Yard Carnivals.” These were fun events with a very serious purpose–to raise funds for MDA.

There are probably opportunities for even children in your town or city to get involved with a charitable event or organization. Look around and ask. A lot of kids will not put the electronic devices down for ANY pleasurable activity (like the arts, sports, the outdoors, etc.), but they will put the devices down to help a less fortunate person.

One thing that you can get your kids involved with is local nursing homes. Visit the homes and talk to the people who live there. The kids might feel uncomfortable, but eventually they will grow close to the older ones and make friends.

Finally, I used to take my children on “field trips” in our own city. We would visit interesting churches (most pastors will gladly give a tour of an older church), or businesses (we visited a blacksmith once), or parks. It was so much fun! We would pack a little lunch and go off to have our “adventure!”
 
Ransri said:
Does this amount to Sin and can they be corrected without yelling and deterrence techniques
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It’s more of a sin on the part of the primary caregiver. There is the sin of not obeying one’s parent, or primary caregiver, but depending on the maturity of the child, it’s largely the primary caregiver’s responsibility to ensure that their child’s screen time is used responsibly and doesn’t cause harm.

I could use food as an analogy for screen time. My kids have been told innumerable times about the importance of eating healthy and not eating to much junk food. But if I were to let them eat whatever and whenever they wanted, they would eat much more junk food and probably never touch a vegetable. Again, depending on the child’s maturity, it’s largely the primary caregiver’s responsibility to ensure that they remain mentally and physically healthy.
 
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Turn off the house wifi.

Electronic devices curfew ban from a certain time in the evening,

Or:
Only 20 mins of supervised electronic devices use each day,
 
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