How to Avoid Computer and Internet Addiction

How to Avoid Computer and Internet Addiction
by jrdiaz


A lot of people link addiction only to illegal drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol. But are you aware that there are other addictions a person can experience and suffer from?

Some of these addictions include gambling, shopping, watching pornography, work, and using computer and the Internet.

It is truly amazing how many kinds of things we allow to dominate us. We are supposed to rule, control, and master them, but they often rule us. In other words, we become addicted to them.

Let’s talk about computers and the Internet. They are a necessity for today’s generation. Computers and the Internets are needed in the workplace, in school, and at home. The Internet provides easy access to a gold mine of information.

You can communicate with friends all over the world while at home, in the office, in malls and at airports with wifis.

Furthermore, you can shop, bank or pay your bills online. You can watch and share video clips, download or upload almost anything you like from YouTube. With the Internet, news, weather forecasts, and sports are just a click away.

But the Internet has its downside too. When you become so attached to the computer that you start to live in an artificial world, your physical, emotional and spiritual health is in danger.

Obviously, computers can provide entertainment and enjoyment. However, some computer users become obsessed with the computer and the Internet that they would rather miss regular meals than miss the Internet.

Computer addiction occurs when the computer consumes someone’s entire social life. It happens when you are neglecting family and friends and /or responsibilities in order to be on line. It is a growing health problem.

Scientific studies show that computer addiction affects the brain in pretty much the same way as drug addiction changes the brain chemistry by stimulating the reward circuit of the brain. As human beings, we are likely to repeat doing the things we find rewarding. Like eating chocolates or ice cream, we tend to eat more than the required amount. The same thing with computer, we tend to stay in the computer longer than intended with perverted thinking and uncontrolled behavior.

Computer addiction, therefore, is a serious matter. Don’t take it for granted. Many have lost a loved one or their work because of computer addiction.

So how do you know that you have too much of computer or the Internet? Symptoms of a user with computer addiction include the following:
• Crave computer time
• Overjoyed when at the computer
• Unable to stop computer activity
• Irritable when not at the computer
• Neglects family and friends
• Problems at work or school

Knowing these early signs and symptoms of computer and Internet addiction in spouse, in your children, or even yourself is of extreme importance. We need to be aware of the warning signs of addiction.

So, how would you avoid computer and Internet addiction? Here are some good suggestions:

1. Change your mind.

You need to change your mind because nothing changes until your mind changes. Computer and Internet addiction is a condition of the mind that habitually surrenders oneself to computer and the Internet. That’s why you need to change your mind-set to overcome this addiction.

2. Parents should be role models for their children.

If you want your kids to do something, let them see you doing it. It is called values. Whatever you value, your kids will value. If you value Internet browsing 8 hours a day, they will also value it. Your children will usually do what you do, not what you said. So set the right example on how to use the computer and the Internet properly.

3. Put computer in a common place.

As parents, we need to put computer in a common place in the house like the living room so that we can easily keep an eye on our children’s use, thus helping them avoid visiting undesirable websites and the excessive use of it.

4. Have family meals at the table at regular times.

We need to plan for family activities and develop healthy relationship with our kids during these family meals. This will help our children not to neglect family, friends, and responsibilities in order to be online.

5. Limit computer use.

Do not stay in the computer longer than intended. List the things you need in the web, set an alarm clock to be sure you get off when it sounds. Stick to your set time. Avoid sleeping late because of Internet browsing. Go to bed on time to get a good night’s rest.

In conclusion, we can say that computer and the Internet are no doubt necessities. But they could also ruin lives and relationships if not handled responsibly.

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How to Raise Thankful Children

How to Raise Thankful Children
 by jrdiaz

Most of our children today spend so many hours watching television that they are constantly bombarded with images that make it difficult for them to develop a sense of gratitude. They see an endless variety of new toys, games, and videos and take in hidden messages such as: “What can I get next?” and “How can I get my parents to get me what I want?”

Parents usually give in to their kids’ demands for new toys and effects—whatever the current craze is. But when we forget to help our children stop, appreciate, cherish and give sentimental value to gifts, then we let them live in a ‘throw-away’ society where the only things that are special are things we want right now.

Kids, especially those younger than seven years, lack the developmental skills to help them understand how other people feel or how their actions affect others. It takes years before children are able to think beyond their own wants and needs. That is why we need to teach them to be thankful as early as possible.

When a child learns gratitude early and properly, he will show empathy—the ability to share in another person’s thoughts and feelings. Not only is empathy crucial to a child as he grows in the world of his peers, but an empathic child logically feels more connected to his parents.

So the question now is, “How can we teach our children to be grateful?” Today’s parents find that teaching kids about gratitude and empathy can be difficult. Thankfully, there are many ways to raise kids to become more appreciative and to show it.

Here are some surefire strategies on how to raise thankful children:

1. Teach good manners.

As parents, we need to teach our children to say ‘thank you’ whenever they receive goods, services, or acts of kindness. Make the connection between acts of kindness and appropriate words. You are not only teaching them good manners, you are also teaching them empathy.

2. Don’t demand thanks.

Avoid commanding your child to be courteous or withholding a gift if he does not say ‘thank you’. Remember that gratitude should not stem from shame or fear of punishment. Your child is less likely to learn this value if it is prevailed upon him, especially if he is scolded or shamed.

3. Consider the reasons behind ungrateful behavior.

A child who is hungry, upset, over-stimulated or tired can hardly be expected to be on his best behavior. Take his temperament into account as well. Some kids are more outgoing and talkative and therefore more likely to express their thanks easily as opposed to a reserved child.

4. Make the child part in the gift-giving process.

Take your child along as you do your Christmas or birthday gift shopping. If it is too difficult, employ your child’s help when making homemade gifts, like baked goods or simply ask him to decide which gift should go to whom. By doing so, you make him learn to see how much of an effort it takes, and you make him more appreciative of the gifts he receives from others.

5. Train your kids to write thank you notes.

They can write notes to teachers, aunts, or anyone who give gifts. Notes are important because they demonstrate and instill a higher level of appreciation. The child would have to think a lot more about what the person actually did for him and therefore internalize why he should be grateful.

6. Be a role model for your children.

Children learn from watching, so your actions may speak louder than your words. Make an effort to be thankful for even the little things and to visibly express it. If showing appreciation is not your best suits, then you can’t expect your children to be grateful either.

Ultimately, the best way for parents to teach gratitude is the old-fashioned way—by living it out at home. Saying “thank you” to each other and recognizing the special contributions of each family member will naturally lead children to carry the attitude of gratitude into their adult lives.

As a final point, here is a verse from the Word of God to remember:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thess. 5:18

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The Purpose of Parenting

The Purpose of Parenting
 by jrdiaz

As parents, we all want our children to become successful and great someday. To make these things happen, parents have a big role to play in the lives of their children.

Before we discuss the purpose of parenting, let me define first the meaning of the word purpose.

What is Purpose?

Purpose is the original intent for the creation of a thing. It is the reason why a thing exists. It is also the motivation that causes the creation of a product.

Purpose simply means, why? Every time you ask, ‘why?’, you are asking for a purpose of a thing―e.g. why this laptop computer was made?, why this chair was made? Nothing in life is without a purpose, but not every purpose is known.

So, why am I here? That is a question of purpose that each of us must answer if we want to enjoy a meaningful, effective and fulfilling life.

To discover purpose, never ask the creation, ask the creator. Creatures can never know purpose apart from the creator. That is why, whenever purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. If the parent does not know the purpose of parenting, it will result to child abuse. That is why, we need to study parenting.

What is Parenting?

Parenting means to love, nurture, care for, and train children to become mature, happy, successful, productive, and well adjusted adults.

 As parents, we are here to love, train, discipline and deploy our children. And these are our responsibilities. We must know how to respond to these responsibilities. Otherwise, we will not become effective and successful parents. That’s why we need to know first in this article the purpose of parenting.

The Purpose of Parenting

Now, we already understand the meaning of purpose and parenting. So, what is the purpose of parenting? Remember this, no psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor knows why you were created. Your mother carried you for nine months and she did not even know your purpose. So, never ask the creation, ask the creator. Purpose is only found in the mind of the creator. In other words, no one knows the product like the manufacturer―e.g. no one knows Nokia cell phone like Nokia Corporation, no  one knows Toyota car like Toyota Corporation.

Since most of us accept and believe God as our creator, we must consult Him for our purpose. We know God as the author of life, and the designer of marriage and family. Hence, He knew the purpose of parenting. God created us in His image and likeness, but His image―His nature and character in us was marred when our first parents (Adam and Eve) sinned against Him. They rebelled and declared independence from God. In other words, the relationship between God and man was cut off and broken by their disobedience. This broken relationship can be restored only through His Son Jesus Christ when we change our minds and accept Him as our King, Lord and Savior.

There is a lot of information on parenting in the world today. You can search and find them in different websites in the internet. Some of it is good, but much of it is not because it is based on philosophies and world views that are contrary to God’s ways and thoughts.

For wise counsel on raising children, we need to refer to the Word of God because He is our creator. Every product has a manual. The same thing with us, we have manual―the Bible.

King Solomon―one of the wisest and richest men who ever lived, said, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”  Solomon did not say, a way but the way―meaning there is only one way our children should go which is through His Word―a lamp to their feet and a light to their path.

Therefore, our job as parents is to teach our children to think right, talk right, and live right based on His Word.

In short, the purpose of parenting is to raise righteous and godly children for God.

We will tackle the details of How to Raise Righteous and Godly Children in next article.

I want to end this article with a quotation:

“The purpose for parenting is to cultivate the dreams of your children and

provide right environment for those dreams to come to pass.”    

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