Using Computer!

Ok guys, I know this is totally different age when it comes to computer. When I was being raised we didn't have computer in our home till I was in college. So of course I didn't have opportunity to drive a mouse or play games etc.

However, I have a 4 yr old and I don't let her sit before computer at all. I only sometime play songs on it so she can enjoy her nursery rhymes. But I was amazed to see all her friends know how to put cd on, start their game on laptops, and play. They play computer games for hour. Parent's like it 'coz then they don't have to entertain them and some games are really educational. Like math games, counting, colors, shapes, phonics, word games etc. etc.

Now my question is, is it ok to expose kids to computer at this young age? For some family computer or equipments are probably not that affordable? Or maybe they are? Isn't watching a TV similar to looking at computer screen? All these educational games are available as board games or as flash cards or other ways. I was just wondering, if I don't teach my 4 year old computer is she going to be behind somewhere or is it ok not to expose kids of today with computer this young. Does kids stay computer illiterate at age of 4 if not exposed to computer? They will eventually learn when they go to elementary school, but is it that important for a pre-schooler to learn computer?

Interesting question, sowmyaa.

I feel that kids should be exposed to the basics of computers at an early age, but with limits. At the age of 4, it should be limited to 1/2 an hour or so. When I was younger, I was allowed to watch TV for only 1 hour.

Its not good to allow them to sit at the computer for long periods as its bad for their eyesight and apart from that, they should learn how to read books, play outside with other children, etc.

Nowadays kids learn how to operate the machine in school...at 4 😕 ...i mean, all kids can do at 4 is probably play music or watch animated VCD's...the real interesting activites for kids a ka paint, powerpoint etc are learnt at the age of 6......its always good to know how to operate a machine, but strictly NO NET...net is dangerous

I agree with you T.

buffie they dont learn in school. they learn at home...those cd game you install and then there is learning thing. yes, thats all they can do play games and stuff. but is it still good to let them play with computer? not sure 😕

sowmya di...y r u asking us for parenting tips? 😆 😆 ..most of us dont have kids so we cant really give u ne tips 😉

but as for the question of computers....well yea...i think little kids should be exposed to computers...this is really common nowadays and not knowing how to use the computer will be a disadantage for the child...i didnt use the computer when i was 4 (im not old like other ppl this was only in the early 1990s 😉). at that time, computer age was still in its earlier age (well kinda) we had a computer but my parents used it for their work and i didnt use it because it was for grownups....but my younger siblings used the computer when they were pre schoolers....i dont feel like i missed out on anything...but then again i dont see any harm in letting your daughter operate the computer on her own and playing educational toddler games

Great topic sowmyaa! Something very closed to my heart too as my little one is 4.5 years. Computer and Kids – things here are almost like urban legends!

To start with – Both me and my wife are computer engineers! From the day one, my daughter is exposed to Wifi broadband and multiple computers at home. We can't help it – it's our job!! Now obviously we were worried about the effect of these on her and searched for advice from the experts, which include pediatric psychologists and optometrists! So here goes my own experience – not all are my words – I am just narrating this. The main concerns of the parents are:

1. Cognitive development: the biggest worry of all parents! Will computer usage will be an obstacle to my child's cognitive and psychological development? Well according to the experts NO –if it's done in the right way. That is facilitated learning with the aid of computer (especially web). Not like leaving alone your child and computer. First few weeks needs lot of handholding – there are many early childhood educational interactive CD's from Disney, Baby Bumble Bee etc. But Web based things are the best – Some of the great sites are - www.disney.go.com, www.barney.com, www.everythinggirl.com (if you have a daughter!), https://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/elmosworld/ …there are many more. Introduce your child and show how to play and learn. Trust me, it works like a magic! Interaction is basic requirement of pedagogy - computers really fulfill that.

2. Social and physiological development: Too much time spend in front of computer is BAD – because it takes away the time from his/her social interaction and physical activities. So 3 to 4 hours per day should be the maximum limit

3. Internet is a Bad Place: not for a 3/4 years old!! When they grow little older - use child lock type programs – either they come with your ISP provider's package or buy a commercial one- they are not very costly at all. There are many bad things in the world (TV is the biggest culprit) – you can't possibly protect your child from all these – better prepare them to face it.

4. Computer is harm full for kid's eyes: Wrong! If you are not using faulty monitor with too much screen frequency rate – there is no problem. Just remember to give them a vision break (looking at a far away object for 30 seconds) – after every half an hour of computer usage.

OMG – I am seriously giving parenting tips here!😆😆😆

Well, let's ask ourselves – if not computer, then what? Also can we stop the invasion of computer in our daily life? For how long we are going to stop them?

Originally posted by: soulsoup

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->Computer is harm full for kid's eyes: Wrong! If you are not using faulty monitor with too much screen frequency rate – there is no problem. Just remember to give them a vision break (looking at a far away object for 30 seconds) – after every half an hour of computer usage.

Well, let's ask ourselves – if not computer, then what? Also can we stop the invasion of computer in our daily life? For how long we are going to stop them?

I was going to say the same thing!!!!!😆 .. but sir gave a very good brief informative answer 👏

When i got spectacles at the age of 11 .. my mom literally yelled at me and she said that becoz i watch so much of TV and played games at computer😭.. this is the consequence! She even believes that now.... but its a scientifically proven fact that watching Tv or working at computer causes no harm to eyes... eyes just neeed the relaxation stated above... (well i have got a "double screen" on my monitor... it helps to have less strain on my eyes as i have to study all day long on this machine.. but i go to a 5 minutes break every half an hour -to avoid backpain .. Now don't give that strange look at me people!! Its everyones prob now... )

Internet.. "good" UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PARENTS... "Bad"..Without any supervision or guidance.. the same case as that of watching TV..😛

Computer operation : A must learn for kids!!.. even pre-schoolers! this generation (ours) is having so much technology that we r having problems in handling that😕.. every day a new I-pod model, a new mobile model, a new gadget.. PHEW!!😕!!! IMAGINE wht will happen after 20 years!!!!!!!!! (i think the world will turn into a gadget!!😆) .. The point is that children have to be prepared for the upcomings... and for that we have to sense the future....

and my question is the same as soulsoup asked.. how long we can forbid our children from the computer and new gadgets??... take mobile phones in this matter too.. We can only counter the negative effects as much as we can (through different methods and techniques).

For me.. any technology is not bad itself.. but it can be USED badly... remember wht your parents said when TV came.... its bad... could they forbid the usage??, NO... this is the similar case with computers and gadgets..

Thanks guys for sharing your views. It's very helpful. I tried to discuss these issues with our pediatrician and teachers. Teachers are updated with the recent research, studies and seminiars. Now both of these people give their openion, but their closing statement is nothing is proved for sure yet, so they leave decision to parents ofcourse.

Now I was reading montessory way of teaching for preschoolers and they emphasis on tangible learning compared to abstract. Like counting..rather than going on barney or dora site and counting circle touching a ball, "touch and feel" learnign is very important at this age. They told me to have kids vision in broad sense. Like their eyes should see view till end like in park or when they see not a 17" monitor or tv screen their vision kind of focus only on smaller portion. They told me that learning with the help of "real" things is more impt. like now they are doing research that in middle school or science class when they teach them about scientific pressure, or gravity etc. they try to take them to beach to study how waves work, or theme park like six flags, or disney and make them see roller coaster and how they affect scientific theories rather than abstract.

Ofcourse, it is hard not to expose them to tv or computer now a days. they see parents working on computer or watchign tv it's like part of daily life. maybe its ok to expose them on limited basis like 1 hr a day or something 😕

guys, thanks for sharing your views and throwing some light on this issue...it's nice to get some parenting tips always!!! 😳

Soumya, i think kids as young as the ones that are old enough to spell their A,B,C's should get a hang of computers these days. yes during your and my time computer got available only from College onwards and i was 18-19 when i took a course along in college to enhance my comp skills. ( i remember learning DOS......now thats a dinasour system in computer. 😆 )

With kids these days, as an ex- school teacher for KinderGarten its truly amazing how much kids are technologically advanced these days. They are learning things we learnt at much later age. Even though we know looking at screens for long periods is bad for the eyes, but because we know the other kids are getting very smart and you don't want yours left behind when he/she goes for a school interview. As a parent people are giving into many things.

I see my 7 year old neice who MSN chats with me and writes very good English . I am truly amazed. but i can see every parent would want their kid equally good or better than thier neighbours kids. So i think an hour in front of a computer can do good if its mixed with other ways the child can develop cognitevly.

Very nice and interesting topic sowmya.👏

I think that a 4 year old kid should be allowed to use computer. But ONLY computer NOT net. This is age of I.T and i think for every chlid's good future it is necessary to teach them computer at small age so that they can use computer independently at some higher age. Kids should be allowed to use different type of games, something that is interesting and can be helpful for their studies and to make them confident of using computer. But they should use computer under their some teacher's or parent's guidence and they should not be allowed to use computer for more than 1 hour other wise it will be bad for their eyes.

In short, kids should be allowed to use computer but under some PROPER guidence.