Question: What’s an appropriate amount of computer time each day for a 13 year old and an 11 year old? Mostly they want to be on the internet or playing games on the computer – not so much watching TV.

Milena Colyer Says...:

Thank you for your question and let me say, I do not believe
there is a set number of minutes or hours that can prove to be the correct
answer for all 11 and 13 year old children. Before I begin to suggest an answer, I
would like to share some facts about video games and the positive and negative
effects video games can have on the brain.

Positive Effects: Several
studies have shown that playing Action games can enhance low-level vision,
visual attention, speed of processing, task-switching, decision making, and statistical
inference. Daphne Bavelier & C. Shawn Green have published studies
demonstrating that video games are beneficial in rehabilitative training and in
the training of surgeons, and other skilled positions that require great levels
of concentration.

Negative Effects: While
video games improve one’s ability to process and switch tasks in a fast-pace
situation, there are recent studies that suggest that the games have an
opposite effect on one’s ability to maintain focus on slowly evolving
information, such as lessons being taught in the classroom. Furthermore, over
use of games can increase anti-social behaviors, aggressiveness, and reduce
empathy. Several studies have displayed the increased ADHD-like symptoms long
periods of game-playing causes (See publication by Michael M. Merzenich).

In reference to online computer games, another researcher
made this statement, “Early studies on internet addiction (involving game
playing) reported altered social behavior, increased aggression, loneliness,
reduced attention, and depressed mood…,” “Recent studies have also reported
relatively high rates of co-morbid psychiatric illness in people with internet
addiction, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and
anxiety spectrum disorder (See published articles by Doug Hyun Han & Perry
F. Renshaw).

A Statistic to
consider: 1 in 5 gamers meet the criteria to be considered “addicted”

In summary: I cannot
give you a set number of appropriate hours that should be considered okay. I can suggest that you take the
opportunity to explore when and how often they are gaming. What isn’t being
done while gaming? Are there responsibilities not being met? Are there
relationships not being nurtured? Is there studying, reading, or personal
growth time that is being thrown away?

Leisure is meant to be enjoyable and gaming is a leisure,
but like all things, gaming should be indulged in moderation. Merzinich said it
best when he stated, “...it should be noted that the daily time spent playing
video games in school-age children has been shown to be inversely correlated with
academic achievement, arguably because time spent playing video games is time
stolen from reading and curriculum-related academic study.”

I suppose my answer to your question is: If the gaming is
taking away from their social relationship, academic studies, personal responsibilities,
or general ability to experience life’s rewards, they may be playing too much
and are likely indulging an addiction and that needs attention. However, if
after a long week of being responsible they like to use a chunk of free-time to
indulge in some gaming, what the heck… let them enjoy!