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