Bob Who?
I learned about this new device today that I must share with you. The device’s name is Bob. What Bob is, is a device that limits the amount of TV or computer or video game time that your children can have.
You can buy this Bob thing online on Amazon or you can pick one up at Radio Shack. The cost is about $70.00. It can be plugged into any of the electronics devices listed above. To install it, just plug Bob into the wall and the device’s cord into Bob. It locks in, so short of cutting the cord, the kids can’t get Bob off the device. Then each person gets a code, and each code is set to an amount of time that they can spend on that device. This can be done daily or weekly which ever your preference is. You assign everybody a secret pin and a set amount of time. Then when they turn on the device, a code must be entered and the time the device is on is then deducted from that persons allotted time. When the person gets down to their last 60 seconds, Bob gives them a warning, and then boom…Bob cuts off the device. No arguments or debates, Bob just cuts you off.
The customers who had purchased this device said that not only was it stopping the arguments about how much time was being spent on TV and video games, but also it was saving them money. Apparently, so as not to waist their TV time, the kids have been shutting off the TV every time they leave the room, even just to use the bathroom. He said that it is well worth it just to see the kids shutting things off when they are not using them.
Another purpose of this device is that it encourages the kids to only watch the shows they really want to see, by forcing them to choose shows to watch with their limited number of hours. They must balance and bide their time, and in many cases, after breaking the bad habits of sitting and watching show after show, just because it comes on next, they are really scheduling and monitoring their own TV time. After a few months, studies have shown that most kids aren’t even using all of their allotted time, but are winding up with excess time in the end.
Well, as a parent, I can’t say enough good things about this device. It is amazing all the technology that is available to us parents these days. Another feature about this device that I really like is the fact that if you are a working parent and not there when the kids come home from school, Bob also has a block that will allow you to designate certain times of the day when the TV can not be watched. See Bob can be the enforcer even when you are not at home.
I personally think that if you have children, especially teenagers, then this device is definitely worth investing in.
