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I wonder if that’s what happened to me. Not sure the critical reading boost was worth dealing with contact problems all the time… ;)</p>
<p>I read op post to say that he is spending four hours at the pool, two hours playing out side. The rest of the time he is playing on the computer or reading ( two hours)</p>
<p>That’s quite a lot of time to be staring at something close and sitting still.
It’s important to take a ten min break every hour.
<a href=“http://www.aoa.org/x5379.xml[/url]”>http://www.aoa.org/x5379.xml</a></p>
<p>I am so emphatic about this, because my eyes are very bad. I have been a voracious reader since early elementary, but now my eyes aren’t completely correctable. I have difficulty both reading and reading signs while driving despite glasses. ( very nearsighted)</p>
<p>I also am a strong proponent of cross midline exercise for neurological development. I think the swimming is great, keep it up. But I have one more point to make.</p>
<p>I don’t think kids should be steered into “tracks” in high school, middle school & certainly not in elementary school. Professional tracks- such as engineering, education, medicine, business- are best supported IMO by graduate degrees not undergrad majors.
Why then would we not do our best to facilitate our nine year old child to have a range of experiences during his summers, not just a few?</p>
<p>Hi I’m the OP.</p>
<p>First, I’d like to clarify something that has been widely misconstrued about my original question. When I said, “even if we spend 4 hours at the pool, 2 reading, 2 playing outside, there is a lot of free time left over” I did not mean to imply that every day we spend 4 hours at the pool. I was giving an extreme case of a lot of outdoor activity and then saying, even in that case there is a lot of time left over.</p>
<p>Although we strive to make sure our boys spend some time outside every day (weather permitting), they may not get this level of activity on some/most days. They usually spend at least an hour per day playing outside, often more.</p>
<p>Today at my 9 yr old’s “game programming” summer camp, I surveyed the 12 or so kids in the room (all but one of whom are male).</p>
<p>Question 1: How much computer time are you allowed per day?</p>
<p>Overwhelmingly the answer was “2 hours”. One boy said “1 hour” and another said “unlimited.” They were very jealous of Mr Unlimited, of course.</p>
<p>Question 2: Do you have to earn your computer time each day?</p>
<p>Overwhelmingly the answer was “yes”, with the earnings instrument being chores, exercise, reading, and the like.</p>
<p>Question 3: Do your parents distinguish between gaming screen time and educational screen time?</p>
<p>Most said “no”. But then, most of these kids are just entering into a part of their lives where they can do more educational activities on a computer (ie, programming).</p>
<p>Here are the references for this Mayo Clinic article that talks about 2 hrs of screen time. It is not just a made up number. </p>
<p>[Children</a> and TV: Limiting your child’s screen time - MayoClinic.com](<a href=“http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/children-and-tv/MY00522]Children”>Screen time and children: How to guide your child - Mayo Clinic)</p>
<p>References
Christakis DA, et al. Television, video and computer game usage in children under 11 years of age. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2004;145:652.
Dennison BA, et al. Television viewing and television in bedroom associated with overweight risk among low-income preschool children. Pediatrics. 2002;109:1028.
The benefits of limiting TV. American Academy of Pediatrics. [HealthyChildren.org</a> - The Benefits of Limiting TV](<a href=“http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/The-Benefits-of-Limiting-TV.aspx]HealthyChildren.org”>Constantly Connected: How Media Use Can Affect Your Child - HealthyChildren.org). Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
Jordan AB, et al. Reducing children’s television-viewing time: A qualitative study of parents and their children. Pediatrics. 2006;118:e1303.
Ginsburg KR, et al. The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics. 2007;119:182.
Thompson DA, et al. The association between television viewing and irregular sleep schedules among children less than 3 years of age. Pediatrics. 2005;116:851.
Borzekowski DLG, et al. The remote, the mouse and the No. 2 pencil: The household media environment and academic achievement among third grade students. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2005;159:607.
Zimmerman FJ, et al. Early cognitive stimulation, emotional support, and television watching as predictors of subsequent bullying among grade-school children. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2005;159:384.
Media education: What parents can do. American Academy of Pediatrics. [HealthyChildren.org</a> - Media Education: What Parents Can Do](<a href=“http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Media-Education-What-Parents-Can-Do.aspx]HealthyChildren.org”>Constantly Connected: How Media Use Can Affect Your Child - HealthyChildren.org). Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
Laurson KR, et al. Combined influence of physical activity and screen time on recommendations on childhood overweight. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2008;153:209.
Broughton DD. Keeping kids safe in cyberspace. AAP News. 2005;26:11.
Children, adolescents and television. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Public Education. Pediatrics. 2001;107:423.
Page AS, et al. Children’s screen viewing is related to psychological difficulties irrespective of physical activity. Pediatrics. 2010;126:e1011.
Sege RD. Television and media violence. [UpToDate</a> Inc.](<a href=“http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html]UpToDate”>Evidence-Based Clinical Decision Support System| UpToDate | Wolters Kluwer). Accessed Jan. 5, 2011.
Christakis DA, et al. Preschool-aged children’s television viewing in child care settings. Pediatrics. 2009;124:1627.
What children are not doing when watching TV. American Academy of Pediatrics. [HealthyChildren.org</a> - What Children are NOT Doing When Watching TV](<a href=“http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/What-Children-are-NOT-Doing-When-Watching-TV.aspx]HealthyChildren.org”>HealthyChildren.org - From the American Academy of Pediatrics). Accessed Jan. 7, 2011.
Swing EL, et al. Television and video game exposure and the development of attention problems. Pediatrics. 2010;126:214.</p>
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<p>Well, I’ve been out of luck since day one, then. Even though I’m relatively active, I have a disability that makes it very difficult for me to stand for more than 10-15 minutes at time and walk for more than maybe 30 minutes, if that.</p>
<p>Also, everyone who has an office job or is an academic appears similarly out of luck.</p>
<p>How many people out there spend less than 3 hours a day sitting down every day for even a 3 month period? That sounds so bizarre to me.</p>
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I didn’t spend much time sitting when I was working summer jobs in a warehouse and on an assembly line. My waitress mom doesn’t sit much, and neither does my construction worker dad. My grandparents were farmers and didn’t sit much either, except on days when they were working out in the fields (someone had to drive the truck).</p>
<p>I am rather entertained that some white-collar folks can’t even imagine sitting for less than 3 hours/day.</p>
<p>As the mom of grown children, involved for many years in homeschooling groups and with so-called gifted education, I enjoy giving advice. 
Thanks for the opportunity. 
My opinion is that when nine year olds are self-motivated to teach themselves and achieve competence in activities that have possible short term and long term positive benefits, they should be allowed to do so. I don’t necessarily think parents should provide over-the-top props and encouragement but I do think the child should be respected and supported. I would not limit computer time for serious “work” at all, unless you have concerns about potential health risks. Screens and small children worry me, but I’m also rather concerned about electricity so my opinion there is of no use.</p>
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<p>They worked every day all day (or with less than 3 hours off a day minus sleeping) for 3 months straight? And if not they didn’t spend 3 hours sitting in any day? If so, I guess maybe it is just a white-collar thing.</p>
<p>Three hours is not that long of a time.
Allowing for three meals a day, and 20 minutes to eat each meal, is an hour.
Many people commute, even builders/retail workers/PE teacher. Average commute in my area is about 30 minutes, including bicyclists. ( I usually sit when riding a bike) So another hour.
Add 30 minutes to manage paperwork, answer emails, and maybe 30 minutes to read a book or a newspaper & you have three hours easy!</p>
<p>I am rather entertained that some people can’t imagine sitting down for three hours a day to read, do paperwork & eat. ;)</p>