| In less than two decades, home computers have | | | | Most experts agree that, by the age of three |
| become a necessary part of life for most | | | | or four, kids are ready to begin exploring |
| people. In the twenty-first century, computer | | | | the computer, as long as they are supervised |
| literacy is as important as reading itself. | | | | by parents or caregivers. According to |
| We all remember how daunting the computer | | | | SesameWorkshop.org, the ability to control |
| seemed, the first time we clicked a mouse. | | | | technology can be a valuable lesson at this |
| Most parents of young children today touched | | | | age. As well, computer games for preschoolers |
| their first computer as teens, and have no | | | | can offer valuable lessons in counting, |
| first-hand experience regarding the right age | | | | spelling, and classification. |
| at which to begin training their own children | | | | |
| in computer usage. But a parent can't help | | | | What parents must guard against is using the |
| feeling a certain pride, watching a | | | | computer as the only surrogate teacher. Some |
| three-year-old navigate a game program. | | | | seminal studies have shown that a fairly |
| | | | sizable percentage of today's high-school |
| We want our kids to have every advantage | | | | students, who grew up dependent on computers, |
| possible, and the computer is certainly the | | | | feel uncomfortable with the "mechanics" of |
| most comprehensive educational tool | | | | arithmetic (two things plus two things |
| available, today. At the same time, we have | | | | actually make four things) and spelling |
| to ask ourselves-how young is too young? | | | | (without spell-check). |
| | | | |
| Unfortunately, behavioral scientific studies | | | | Parents must also weigh the physical effects |
| take years to complete, and so far, there's | | | | of computer use. Obviously, the child |
| no concensus among experts about the | | | | accustomed to achieving entertainment and |
| computer's effect on young children. However, | | | | amusement solely through the computer is less |
| many organizations do provide some | | | | active than the child who can derive pleasure |
| common-sense guidelines for parents. | | | | from physical activity. If a child's computer |
| | | | experience isn't monitored for correct |
| According to KidSource.com, many researchers | | | | ergonomics, poor posture can develop, early, |
| discourage computer use before the age of | | | | and be difficult to correct, later. |
| three: "Computers simply do not match their | | | | |
| learning style". Children under three learn | | | | Eyestrain is also an important consideration |
| about the world through their senses-taste, | | | | about which parents must be vigilant. Twenty |
| touch, sight and sound-and it's difficult for | | | | minutes to a half-hour in front of a computer |
| them to focus attention for any length of | | | | monitor is probably as much time as children |
| time. There are game programs available for | | | | should spend, without a break. |
| kids as young as two, which concentrate on | | | | |
| cause-and-effect actions; when the mouse is | | | | And, of course, internet usage should be |
| moved and clicked at a certain point, a noise | | | | closely monitored by parents at all times. |
| occurs or a picture appears. However, a child | | | | |
| slapping the bathwater, to make a noise and a | | | | Computers will continue to advance, even in |
| splash, can be just as developmentally | | | | ways we still haven't begun to fathom. With |
| valuable, if not more so, because it involves | | | | careful training, at an early age, our |
| more of a complete sensory experience. | | | | children can live lives enhanced by |
| | | | computers, rather than dominated by them. |