Source: Telegraph >> Read full article and comment
Parents who grew tired of their six children’s obsession with computer games and mobile phones have responded by banning all gadgets from their home.
Miranda and Richard Jones, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, said their children became grumpy when denied access to their televisions or computer games, and took the decision to throw them all away.
Now, after what Mrs Jones calls the “best parenting decision she’s ever made”, she says her children are far happier than when they were glued to screens.
Mrs Jones said the teenagers now chat openly to their parents and occupy themselves with schoolwork and part-time jobs, while the younger children enjoy colouring in and getting muddy.
She said: “The three older children had a TV, a computer, Nintendo DSs and a PlayStation, but then screens started to become a problem for my third child. He wanted them all the time.
“When I tried to limit them he threw a tantrum and was grumpy when he wasn’t using them. I started to feel guilty about how much time I spent saying ‘no’ to him, I became the villain.
“So I started banning them and noticed how much less grumpy he was when he didn’t have access. That’s when I thought ‘this is the right thing to do’.”
Mrs Jones took away the computer consoles and games, prohibited the children from using mobile phones and limited their television time. When the family moved to their current home three years ago they did not bring their television.
She said: “I wanted the children to have a proper childhood. I wanted them to enjoy life and get out and live it, and fortunately the teenagers have been brilliant about it.
“They have accepted that spending time on computers and mobile phones is something other kids do and they don’t.”.. Continue reading
