At what age should I let my child use a computer?
– Cindy B, Internet
A kid on a computer? As soon as they can sit up straight and not drool on the keyboard or try to eat the mouse.
Seriously, you want to get your kid used to using a computer at the earliest age possible. Teach them how to use a mouse and a keyboard. Build those basic computer skills as early as you can.
Do not ignore the rest of life. You also have to rip that kid away from the computer and send them outside to play!
There is a ton of “kid” software on the market to help kids learn but most of it is junk. You don’t need any fancy art programs for your kid to use just open up a basic paint program and let them go nuts. Most of their early work will look like a bunch of scribbles from a crayon but that’s no different than what they would draw on paper with a real crayon!
If you are confusing a computer with the Internet than that is a different question.
Have a question for dad? Send it in!
Anna trying out her new keyboard used under Creative Commons License from flickr user spullara
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4 users responded in this post
I like your paint program idea!
On the age though, I’d like to respectfully disagree. I think your advice is *great* for people already prone to active parenting but that sort of gives an excuse for those prone to the electronic babysitter. Not that there’s anything wrong with an electronic babysitter every once in awhile but I do think it’s easy to overuse.
I think there are very few children who wouldn’t adapt easily to mouse and keyboard use even if they never saw them during the preschool years at all.
Most skills children can learn using a computer can also be taught by a parent. I don’t mean it isn’t *fun* for them to learn via computer, I just don’t see it as a necessity in the least.
This is a PBS article that’s pretty good & it gives info from the National Association for the Education of Young Children:
PBS article
Jill, though most kids can quickly adapt to the mouse and keyboard it can take time for kids to adjust to the way the machine actually works. Learning things such as “use the shutdown system” instead of hitting the power switch!
I agree with you 100% about using the computer as a digital babysitter. I far and away prefer to use the computer as a reinforcement system for skills already taught. I do the teaching and then I have my kid do something on the computer to show that they are grasping what I am teaching.
Thanks for the PBS article link!
Yeah, I that’s the way to go, I just don’t think it’s most people’s natural inclination. Welcome on the link!
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