What's the right age for a first computer?
Our son, now 2.5 years old, loves to play on the computer.
Thus far, it's been with nearly 100% adult supervision, although we'll sometimes start a YouTube video (of trains, inevitably) and leave him there unsupervised for a few minutes until we have to click on the next video.
I've also been using the open source programs TuxPaint gCompris and Child's Play with him, and he can almost do these programs unassisted.
under 3 years feels really young to have a first computer, but at the same time, by his 3rd birthday, I suspect he'll have full mousing & keyboard skills just from the time he gets with us on the computer supervised.
Of course, he's still way too young to have a web browser with full internet access available, but I can see getting him his own really cheap netbook, and having a very limited number of programs on it that he could use himself.
And, as with TV, we would limit his "screen time" if he were to have his own PC.
It also seems that the "kid's computers" and just expensive and gimmicky for what you get, barring some of the really nice LeapFrog toys...
Thoughts?
1 Answers
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I think Maya is about the same age as yours. I'm also pondering this and my thinking sounds like it aligns with yours. I think she will be ready at about 3. Right now she can navigate slideshows in picassa with the arrow keys and roughly use the mouse to point to things in the picture.
I'm thinking more along the lines of a cheap desktop that I can hide under a table and give just a keyboard, trackball and monitor.
She does have a 1LPC laptop that she bangs on, I just wish they actually worked and had decent software. Right now she just uses it as a toy to pretend playing on the computer
Funny, we have 2 kids, and our second is named Maya. Great name! Have you thought about reflashing the 1LPC with Ubuntu Netbook Remix?
- Steve Lacy, Dec 8, 2009