Families ought to shut off their computers and TVs if just to spend extra quality time with their family members. As time spent by household members on the web and TV increases, family time continues to suffer. The outcome of research projects on American families disclose that household members are spending a reduced amount of time with other household members. Generally, an internet user spends 3 hours online every day, while viewers spend typically 1.7 hours every day watching Television.
The home is gradually losing its position as an emotional cradle. There is an erosion happening as more adults are paying no attention to their companions and kids, and kids are not minding their parents and siblings. The family is supposed to be the molder of imminent leaders and productive citizens. In the dwelling, parents and children are expected to experience and share love and to translate this to the larger population. It is in the home where reliance, support, kindness, and how to deal with anger, failure, embarrassment, etc. are “captured” by developing children. Parents become role models as they continue to grow emotionally and attempt to live life to the max.
No other public organization can operate as an emotional support. Many teenagers of today show that they are wise, but they are deficient in emotional intelligence. They are not well-prepared to “read” other people – not even their own selves. The skill of anyone to comprehend, read and manage his or her own emotions is measured by emotional intelligence. A person can only learn this when he or she is given the time to associate with actual people.
What happens these days in many families is that online associates or Television news and superheroes snare family members into spending ever more time with them. A 2004 survey on internet use exposed a noteworthy correlation between time spent with the family and time spent online. An average user denies his or her family 23.5 minutes day after day for each hour that he or she spends online. Sleep pattern is also affected, with the internet user getting an average of 8.5 minutes less sleep per day for each hour used up online.
Neither the computer nor the TV should turn out to be more significant than the actual people that family members live with. When this occurs, the family will suffer. There should be more time spent with “actual” friends in their homes. An easy activity like getting together around the dinner table is just one straightforward way of family bonding. When families are interacting face-to-face more often, the members become more unified. The bonds become more powerful as they come to understand each others real interests and what they imagine and feel.
Usually I do not write about spending time with friends or family. I’m so busy writing about using an IP changer to protect your online identity that I tend not to spend time with my own kids. So I thought I should write this piece and then unplug for a week.