Computers today play a more important role in our lives than ever before. We use them not only at work, but at home as a way of relaxing, and many children now need nothing more than a computer game in front of them to keep them entertained for hours. But is this necessarily a good thing?
To begin with, a point in favour of computer games for children is the fact that they can often help the child to sharpen their responses, since they require players to act and respond quickly. Furthermore, there are many computer games available that combine both education and entertainment. For example, computer word games enable a child to expand his knowledge, often without realising that he is doing so.
On the other hand, staring at a computer screen for hours on end seems to be unhealthy for a child, and computer games have certainly played a part in children today becoming less active. Added to this is the fact that computers are expensive – this can lead to financial problems for parents who feel pressured to buy one even though they cannot afford it.
In conclusion, although computers and computer games can have a beneficial effect on children, it seems that they should not be allowed to play such an important role in their lives to the exclusion of everything else.