How are you handling school laptop programs and distractible kids?

[Anonymous]

As our DS has begun using computers more for coursework, it's a nightmare. He's surfing everywhere and not focused. I'm really surprised that so many schools do this at such an early age. How are you coping? Or not coping? How is your school handling this issue? Thanks for any advice.

[Anonymous]

Our school handles it well. Teachers give iPad infractions if kids break rules, including playing when they should be working. The consequence varies based on how many they have but they can have their device confiscated. My understanding is it's not an empty threat. DS got one infraction and the school notified me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school handles it well. Teachers give iPad infractions if kids break rules, including playing when they should be working. The consequence varies based on how many they have but they can have their device confiscated. My understanding is it's not an empty threat. DS got one infraction and the school notified me.

That's all fine and good in the classroom. But how do you handle homework? Our boy was surfing internet when he should have been doing his 3 hours of homework. We put an end to that with a spy program which shows us (on our computer) what he is doing real time. Like virtually looking over his shoulder. The program has ability to block, but we don't do that. We can now actually quantify how much time he wasted on Youtube and other sites. We love it. And I don't want to hear about privacy, because, these programs are used by employers all over the country. In the days when the computer was a desktop in the kitchen, our lives were easier because we could look over their shoulders. Now the kids want to work in their quiet rooms (understandably) but we should be able to see what they are working on.

[Anonymous]

We are having a problem too.

[Anonymous]

DH and I feels that as long as DS keeps up with the grades and complete all the assignments at a decent hour, we let him be. Because at the end of the day, isn't that all it matters?

And whenever we feel he is struggling with either criteria, he is to do his HW in the common room instead of in his room. We made him do that once soon after school started, and all good since then!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school handles it well. Teachers give iPad infractions if kids break rules, including playing when they should be working. The consequence varies based on how many they have but they can have their device confiscated. My understanding is it's not an empty threat. DS got one infraction and the school notified me.

That's all fine and good in the classroom. But how do you handle homework? Our boy was surfing internet when he should have been doing his 3 hours of homework. We put an end to that with a spy program which shows us (on our computer) what he is doing real time. Like virtually looking over his shoulder. The program has ability to block, but we don't do that. We can now actually quantify how much time he wasted on Youtube and other sites. We love it. And I don't want to hear about privacy, because, these programs are used by employers all over the country. In the days when the computer was a desktop in the kitchen, our lives were easier because we could look over their shoulders. Now the kids want to work in their quiet rooms (understandably) but we should be able to see what they are working on.

That's an awfully long time. It's not for a week night and/or in one sitting, is it? If so, I think that's unrealistic and unhealthy.

Personally, I think you just need to focus on the outcome - is he getting done what he needs to. That way he can train himself to focus, rather than have it as someone watching over him and not internalizing it. Maybe help him to have small blocks of intense focus, broken up with snacks or some other activity (like surfing the net). He could set an alarm clock. He may feel more positive about it if he knows there is a set time when he is allowed to surf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school handles it well. Teachers give iPad infractions if kids break rules, including playing when they should be working. The consequence varies based on how many they have but they can have their device confiscated. My understanding is it's not an empty threat. DS got one infraction and the school notified me.

That's all fine and good in the classroom. But how do you handle homework? Our boy was surfing internet when he should have been doing his 3 hours of homework. We put an end to that with a spy program which shows us (on our computer) what he is doing real time. Like virtually looking over his shoulder. The program has ability to block, but we don't do that. We can now actually quantify how much time he wasted on Youtube and other sites. We love it. And I don't want to hear about privacy, because, these programs are used by employers all over the country. In the days when the computer was a desktop in the kitchen, our lives were easier because we could look over their shoulders. Now the kids want to work in their quiet rooms (understandably) but we should be able to see what they are working on.

That's an awfully long time. It's not for a week night and/or in one sitting, is it? If so, I think that's unrealistic and unhealthy.

Personally, I think you just need to focus on the outcome - is he getting done what he needs to. That way he can train himself to focus, rather than have it as someone watching over him and not internalizing it. Maybe help him to have small blocks of intense focus, broken up with snacks or some other activity (like surfing the net). He could set an alarm clock. He may feel more positive about it if he knows there is a set time when he is allowed to surf.

The outcome is much better when he does not give in to the distractions. His school is VERY demanding and 3 hours of homework could turn into 4 hours if he also does youtube and texting. We don't nit pick, but if we see he has spent an hour doing non home activities, we intervene. There are other things we would rather see him do with his free time during the week. The computer is not healthy, and he is too young to realize that.

[Anonymous]

What's the name of the program you installed? We could use one in our home!

[Anonymous]

We keep technology in the common areas. Sorry, they can use headphones but they aren't going to use their laptops or iPads in their rooms. Only the kindle ereader can be used privately and that has been locked so they can't purchase and download books, only read what I have purchased and is now available in the cloud.

My kids are 10 and 7 so I am sure the rules will ease up before college. I have time. Right now they need to be in common areas both for staying on track and for internet safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We keep technology in the common areas. Sorry, they can use headphones but they aren't going to use their laptops or iPads in their rooms. Only the kindle ereader can be used privately and that has been locked so they can't purchase and download books, only read what I have purchased and is now available in the cloud.

My kids are 10 and 7 so I am sure the rules will ease up before college. I have time. Right now they need to be in common areas both for staying on track and for internet safety.

It will have to ease up by the time they are in middle and high school. Common areas can be noisy and distracting depending on your home dynamics. Our DS used to do homework in the kitchen, but now he has to do it in his room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the name of the program you installed? We could use one in our home!

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