I was reading and came across a posting about "the rise of cyber-children." These are children whose parents introduce them to computers and the internet at a very young age. In the UK, children as young as 18months - two and half years old are using keyboards and mouses to click around on the computer. At such a young age, does this really give a child advantages of being more computer savvy than other children their age?
What's your take on this?
In my opinion, a child that young does not need to use a computer. Allowing them to click around and stare into a monitor that could start eye damage early can't possibly be helpful in their development. Once a child reaches the age of 3 or 4 they should be able to use one of those "Leapfrog" children's computers.
Posts
2 comments:
It's funny to read this posting today as I was just dealing with a 4 year old who was determined to text. She kept saying "Mommy I want to text". Most of the time they want to mimic adults. How much time do we spend in front of computers, or sending a text message or just checking one more thing? I think children have grown up seeing parents surfing the internet, working, playing games chatting etc. and now between the ages of 2 and 4 they are ready to enter this same world. You bring up a valid point but shouldn't it be do as I say and do not just do as I say?
I also believe that a child that young is too young to be staring at a computer screen and typing. Whatever happened to building blocks or coloring? Children have plenty of time to learn computer skills and games but I think that before 5 is much too young. My 4 year old daughter received a webkin as a birthday gift and, of course, I had to log her in and then had to read every screen to her (since she couldn't read yet!). That was it for me! I gave her an old laptop of mine that I loaded Dora computer games on(click on the space bar for Dora to jump up and down, click on up or down arrow to move Dora, etc) that is very basic and not too taxing. She spent 10 minutes on it and was done. Goes back to it once in a great while (mostly in the winter months) but more interested in walking the dog and playing with her frineds or playing cards and coloring with mom and dad. And I like it like that! Now, if I can finish school and get off the computer myself!
Post a Comment