Page Translator
Social Media
| Tech Tips for Tots |
|
At what age should computer use begin, and what can be done at home and at school to help build computer competence in children? Below are a few tips for parents who want to find the right balance with technology in the home. Time is Precious In the report “Technology in early Childhood: Finding the Balance,” the northwest regional education Laboratory recommends no more than two hours of "screen time" (computer, TV, and video game time combined) a day for preschoolers. The advice for parents is clear: Spend a little time at the computer with preschoolers, then go outside and have fun in the fresh air. Education, Not Just Entertainment Hundreds of computer games are available for kids from nine months to five years old, so why not select games with educational value? Even two year olds can begin recognizing shapes and colors and listen to stories online. Navigation is Key Navigation refers to how easy it is for a young child to move around within a Web site -- to play games, follow links, and so on. Although parents always should supervise computer time, children will feel most successful if they can open, close, and replay their own games and sites with very little adult help. Good web sites for preschoolers and toddlers rely on images and sounds, rather than on printed text. A green button, red stop sign, or audio prompt saying, "try again" will help most younger users, while a game that has a text message that reads, "Sorry, wrong answer. Press here to continue" might frustrate them. Guard What's Yours Children can accidentally delete files, send e-mails, change settings, and more. With Windows XP or Mac OS X, parents can create separate user accounts for themselves and for their children. That way, a child, once logged in by a parent, would only be able to access specific files and programs. Password protecting important files (like family budgets, resumes, and so on) also is a solution. Microsoft Office has a password tool that can be activated to "lock" a document and protect it from curious kids. Anyone Can Access The Information Superhighway Learning about computers doesn't need to break the family bank. With just the Internet and a home computer, families can play math games, read stories, and visit faraway places without spending an extra dime. In addition, many public libraries have computers available for public use at no charge. Community centers and houses of worship are other good possibilities for families without computer access at home. By limiting computer time, focusing on educational and easy-to-navigate activities, and by sharing time with their child, parents can help preschoolers build a foundation of success and skills for the years ahead. Article by Lorrie Jackson eEducation World® Copyright educationWorld.com |