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SylviaB
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| Posted: March 19 2009 at 8:39am | IP Logged
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Wasn't sure which was the right forum for this....
One of our local homeschool groups set up a free demo computer class for kids ages 3-6. We went yesterday. My kids (almost 5 and 3) were the only ones who weren't already very proficient on the computer. My kids have very little to no computer experience.
We are a pretty low tech family. The kids don't want any TV except maybe a family movie night for a Disney movie about once or twice a month. We don't have any video games, etc...
I am very comfortable with our decision on no TV, but the class computer class yesterday got me thinking.
What age you introduce your kids to computers and start teaching them computer skills?
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Jody
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| Posted: March 19 2009 at 3:03pm | IP Logged
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Sylvia, for our family we start them at about 5 years old. My ds is now doing 2 programs. Typing and math facts. He really likes it. He gets 15 minutes for each.
We are not a very technological family but I do like using the computer for school. Since we are a big family and it's just me doing the teaching, I like to think of the computer as my assistant teacher or a tutor.
I put the timer on and one child does his stint while I am freed up to help the others. We only have one computer and we rotate turns.
I actually just got my computer back after not being able to use it for a year. It is a God-send to me.
Peace,
Jody
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Jody,
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: March 19 2009 at 3:30pm | IP Logged
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My kids have typically started on the computer around age 2, playing games on the Sesame Street website. Keyboard-o-rama is an early favorite because when they hit a number or letter Elmo matches it with picture ("B" is for "Bell", etc).
I did a learning style quiz for my oldest a few years ago that said that computer games would really fit her, and they really do. Besides various internet websites, we've used several educational software games (JumpStart).
Even before she could work the mouse herself, my second daughter learned a lot from the computer by playing along with her older sister. By age 3 she was navigating book marks better than her Granny. That being said, she doesn't get obsessed with internet games as much as my oldest.
I've found the computer to be a great tool for learning early site words (yes, no, cancel) and learning how to spell their first name from less educational sites like barbie.com among other positive things.
I should note that we are not quite as strict about the amount of television viewing and such as some families. We don't have maximum time limits--time limits around here are more to make sure that other people get a turn with the television or computer. And there are times when I kick everyone off of everything if I think they're turning into zombies.
We have crossed the line at giving them e-mail addresses. They've done a few membership sites like Club Penguin and learned some interesting lessons about "money", saving for things you want, and pet care. My oldest is very aware not to tell personal information on the internet, and since we have about twenty sites bookmarked we discourage her from doing searches on her own.
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Philothea
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| Posted: March 19 2009 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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My four year old got an eMac for Christmas. He had already had the LeapFrog ClickStart since he was three, which helped him learn the QWERTY keyboard and basic mouse skills. We got him the Mac because it's kid friendly and he kept asking to use our laptops for Starfall, WorldWide Telescope and watching Christian music and marble run videos on YouTube (we don't let him use YouTube without supervision, don't worry!). We wanted him to have his own computer to do that on so he could do it even (especially) when we were busy working on ours.
He plays on it probably 3 times a week for about an hour each time. He has some software now, too, paint programs and a couple of fun, age-appropriate games. He also loves to use Skype (with assistance) to talk to his grandparents and cousins who are spread out all over the place.
My second son is only 16 months old and he obviously does not use the computer himself at all but enjoys watching his brother play Starfall and often joins our Skype conversations (this is a free online video phone, for those who aren't familiar with it). He'll probably be ready for the ClickStart at two-and-a-half or three and then we'll go from there.
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donnalynn
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| Posted: March 20 2009 at 3:08pm | IP Logged
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We don't allow any computer use until the age of 12. At 12 they may start a keyboarding program, play a few games, and begin emailing some close personal friends.
This has worked for us - although I am having trouble finding computer time for the older girls without the youner boys wanting to hang over their shoulders.
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Martha
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| Posted: March 20 2009 at 3:31pm | IP Logged
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today was the first time my 14 year old had ever been on the internet in his life. He didn't even know how to get on it.
he didn't start typing until last year and it was only in Word for his seton reports.
dh and I were both computer programmers and dh is actually an e-learning curriculum developer and facilitar.
no matter what you teach them today - the technology will be obsolete in 6 months.
my 14 yr old? within 20 minutes of logging him online and giving the basic rules:
- no personal info and no downloads
he was:
creating a login for skype international
talking with his spanish tutor in Columbia south america on the internet
He did some ACT and vocab practice on a website.
He also did an internet search and found a math game for his brother
He played around trying to figure out the least possible amount of education he could get away with and still get a degree on the college board site.
so I think waiting to introduce technolgy is not only fine, I think it's very good. It gives them time to develop other learning skills and stretches their attention span. (IMO)
remember Bill Gates never owns a personal computer as a kid either and he managed to do just fine in technology. 
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Martha
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: March 20 2009 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
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I read a very interesting article and then part of a book by a major computer guy who recommended NOT letting kids spend time on the computer before at least middle school, maybe even high school? He thinks it actually stunts real learning and recommends learning the old fashioned way, with books and paper. I wish I could remember the name of the book.  It was very good. Carole Joy Seid recommended it at a seminar I once attended. She is an huge advocate for a low tech environment for elem. school kids.
We have a few old computer games like Freddie Fish that 5-6 yr olds get to play, maybe once a week or so. Kids around 11 start with Mavis Beacon teaches typing here. They use World Book on cdrom rather than the internet if they need to do research. We don't use the internet with children under high school age, and no one uses facebook, instant messaging or any other avenues to chat, including message boards. Ds who is 15 still knows more than I do about computer stuff, in spite of not having much exposure as a child. 
I'd say if you are happy with how your family is doing things, don't let this class intimidate you into changing things.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Heliodora
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| Posted: March 20 2009 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| I read a very interesting article and then part of a book by a major computer guy who recommended NOT letting kids spend time on the computer before at least middle school, maybe even high school? He thinks it actually stunts real learning and recommends learning the old fashioned way, with books and paper. |
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This is pretty much my philosophy. I'm not sure which person you are referring to, but for me it is mainly because of how the brain develops. Jane Healy has several books addressing this issue. Children do not develop the same mentally or emotionally when they are introduced to computers at the ages where they are learning these basic skills. They also do not engage in creative play, which is necessary for them to make sense of the world around them. Those are some basic concerns that are good starting points to look into.
Obviously, it is unrealistic to eliminate computer use entirely- they are everywhere, and necessary for the workforce- but as far as using them to learn, I avoid that as much as I can. We have been introducing computer use in our household with the 10 and up kids. They are learning typing skills with Mavis Beacon, and the 12 and 13 year olds have been taking the online Memoria Press Latin. That class has a forum for the other kids, which makes me leary, because even though these are other homeschooled kids, many of them do not share our same Catholic values and are allowed things in their families that we do not allow. It fosters too much of that pack mentality that is part of what we avoid by homeschooling. We don't let them into any social networking or e-mailing at all yet. I'm not sure if we will.
The 10, 12, and 13 year olds now use the computer to type their papers. I'm thinking about introducing a computer programing course in the next couple years, as well as graphic design. I really don't think there is any rush on this- kids pick up on this stuff so easily, and I certainly don't expect to raise any Bill Gates, lol.
I really, really dislike "educational" software. Most of it is so insipid. We allowed an "I spy" game for the 6 to 10 yo this last summer- this was a concession and I don't plan on replacing it with anything soon. I don't like the fact that whenever someone is doing something interactive on the computer, everyone in the family sort of hangs around, and even though each person may get a limited time on the computer, they are still exposed to everyone else's time as well. I don't believe that the computer should be used in a closed room, so this was a problem. I'm searching for a game for the older kids to use as an incentive though- most games do not meet with my approval. "Return to Mysterious Island" looks like a good game for the older kids. I am considering it.
Personally, I think the idea that 3-6 year olds *should* learn how to use the computer is ridiculous.
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Philothea
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| Posted: March 21 2009 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
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Heliodora wrote:
| This is pretty much my philosophy. I'm not sure which person you are referring to, but for me it is mainly because of how the brain develops. Jane Healy has several books addressing this issue. Children do not develop the same mentally or emotionally when they are introduced to computers at the ages where they are learning these basic skills. They also do not engage in creative play, which is necessary for them to make sense of the world around them. Those are some basic concerns that are good starting points to look into. |
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I assure you, my children engage in frequent creative play despite early exposure to computers.
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| Personally, I think the idea that 3-6 year olds *should* learn how to use the computer is ridiculous. |
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I agree that there is no reason to force children to learn computers at an early age. It's wholly unnecessary. But if they show interest and you have the means to provide the opportunity, I don't think it's necessarily damaging and can even be beneficial. Like anything else, we must simply require moderation and watch carefully to make sure it's not negatively impacting other activities.
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Heliodora
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| Posted: March 21 2009 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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Philothea wrote:
I assure you, my children engage in frequent creative play despite early exposure to computers. |
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Perhaps I should have phrased my sentence better- young children, in so far as they use computers, do not engage in creative play.
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| But if they show interest and you have the means to provide the opportunity, I don't think it's necessarily damaging and can even be beneficial. Like anything else, we must simply require moderation and watch carefully to make sure it's not negatively impacting other activities. |
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I definitely agree with you here on your point about moderation. I do think, however, that when it comes to very young children, their exposure to tv and computer use should be extremely limited. I've witnessed first hand the difference computer/tv use has on children's behavior with my own children, and I don't like what I see. It confirms the things I've read about brain development and computer use. I also think that it is far too easy to let electronic media take over our lives, and that the consequences of overdosing on computer exposure are serious and permanent. I'd rather err on the side of caution, especially since computers are not necessary for an education. In other words, no child is deprived if he does not grow up with electronic toys.
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Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. -1 Thessalonians 5:21
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VeronicaB
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| Posted: March 25 2009 at 12:21am | IP Logged
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This is a hot topic. I'd like to share my viewpoint.
I have grown up with computers from kindergarten back in 1986. Computers were a lot different then. Any geek will wistfully tell of the first time they saw a colour monitor, or the quirky sound of a dot matrix printer, or even of paper tape and punch cards (I don't go back quite that far, but my parents do)
Programming skills - using a computer, understanding how a filesystem works, installing peripherals, all that sort of stuff is important to me. Linux is good for learning about computers.
But internet use is a whole 'nother kettle of fish. My brother was seduced over the internet which makes me very wary of playing online. My eldest is only 7 so it hasn't been a big thing yet.
So far we mainly have turns on an educational games package called GCompris - gcompris.net They can usually keep on track with the kitchen timer.
Right now I prefer that to watching TV. We have the TV though the computer and use MythTV to save programs to watch later. That is handy - they can watch a favourite show and when it's over it goes back to the main menu to wait for what you want to do next rather than those "stay tuned" messages.
Didn't mean to go on so long. I can totally relate to the idea of limiting computer time. My boys tend to stress and bicker more at the computer. It does seem to affect time perception. Right now I'm thinking I should be making a cake for the Annunciation and here I am rabbitting on.
Okay time to go.
Veronica
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Kids and computers
