Computers... - Page 2

[straighthaircurly]

We allowed DS exposure to TV and computers at a young age (18mo) and he has never become very enamored with them. He will go through phases of wanting to watch a lot of movies and then we have to place limits but normally he is more interested in books, imaginative play, running around outside, etc. Other than Wipeout and NOVA, he never asks to watch TV. He finds video games pretty boring, though he enjoyed the sports on the Wii when we visited his grandparents. His friends all play a lot of video games but when he goes to their house he is always wanting them to play outside or play Legos. I think so much just depends on a child's innate personality. His older cousin has been addicted to TV and video games since he was 5 but his younger cousin isn't nearly as interested and is more like my son, wanting to race around and invent their own "action-packed" fun. We don't have a video game system at this time because all the games I bought for him when he was younger when almost completely unused and he has never asked to have a gaming system. He does love to take apart electronics however and has disassembled a cell phone, VCR/DVD player, paper shredder, toaster and other small appliances. He also enjoys building circuits with Snap Circuits kits and experiments with them a lot. He is almost 8yo.

[Aufilia]

My husband is a computer programmer in the video gaming industry. He ran a gaming media website for about a dozen years.  I am a technical writer with some minor skills in web development.  We met on Internet chat when we were both 18.  Needless to say, we are both computer nerds in big ways.

We did not allow DD to watch TV or have any screen time at all until she was about 2.5.  My intention is to do the same with DS, though he's only 19 months so we still have a year or so to go.  We keep the TV off during the day (we don't even have one on the upper floor, which is where we spend most of our indoor time).  I use my computer mostly during naptime, after the kids are in bed, or if I have lured a neighbor kid over to watch the kids so I can do some work (I am a freelance writer).  When DD was 2.5 we started recording Mister Rogers on the TiVo, which was pretty much all she watched until she was about 3.5.  Since then she's been allowed to watch nearly anything on the Sprout channel, and more recently, on--umm, I think it's Nick Jr? She watches maybe an hour or two per week.

DD was allowed to use a computer starting at about 3.5.  The tough part was finding games that interested her which she could also manage to play -- they don't make tons of reading games for 3-year-olds.  She played several different versions of Reader Rabbit (old ones -- from garage sales and the Goodwill) and a few things like that.  She likes to type stuff in MS Word.  At first she'd type the alphabet or numbers, now she types stories.

Regardless of how bright your child is or how into computer or games you are, I don't think it's healthy for a child to spend lots of time with either computers or TV.  There are better ways to learn, and multiple studies have shown that it's unhealthy for kids to spend a lot of time playing games or watching TV. 

[Ishagirl]

I have been stuggling with how much screen time to allow for my two (ages 10 and 7).  Early on, I was a big believer in no computer use in the early years <5yrs. I had read somewhere that how our brain develops as we learn skills like reading is not helped by using computers. After my kids entered kindergarten and I realized they would now be using computers at school, I have allowed them no more than 1hr/day (usually only 1/2 hr on school days) for either TV or computer time.

My son, 10, the one I am sure is gifted though we've never tested, is such a sponge, that I've allowed him extra time each day if he seems to have done other things - finishing homework, and making time for friends our outdoor play. He almost always goes to educational sites like BrainPop, or now Khan Academy. I know he could spend all day on the computer, and while it's all good things he is learning, I really want to make sure he develops good friendships and gets a good amount of physical exercise.

Recently I was reading about some likely gifted older 19yr olds who have been given the Thiel Fellowship awards. As I read about things they plan to accomplish and the things they've done, it's made me wonder if I am limiting my sons potential. Like some of the others have stated, you can't really be sure if you're giving them too much or too little time. I think you have to decide what is best for each one. My daughter, 7, who is probably gifted, but not as much as my son, also likes to have screen time, but she is more likely to choose webkins or other kids game sites, and only sometimes educational sites, so I'm more likely to limit her time if she is just playing games.

Also, we love our chickens and our gardening, and I think they are great learning opportunities for kids.

[Magali]

We are very computer friendly here and our kids are allowed as much screen time as they want from as soon as they can use the computer.  My son was 3, and his younger sib is just an infant so we'll see.  We have about 5 computers in the house and use them constantly.  My ds has found his own balance with screen time and somdays he is on a lot, some days a little.

[JayGee]

DS is 9, and sadly, I do need to limit him.  He's a "researcher" by nature and will research whatever his passion du jour is all.day.long if I don't set time limits.  Currently, it's trampolines.  He's watched every youtube video, researched every brand, made compare/contrast charts in Excel, price compared them all, measured for the best places in our yard for various models, and read reviews of different brands.  He could spend all day reading and researching trampolines.  Last summer it was campers.  And before that, house plans.  So, basically, he gets 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon to pursue his trampoline passion.  I'm tempted to just buy one to get him off the computer and out jumping!!!

[chaimom]

JayGee-- Can I hire him to research a new car for me?!  LOL!  

We limit screen time for our kids. I think the computer is a valuable resource and very fun.  But I do think they need to pursue other interests as well.

[oddduck]

My daughter (will be 4 in August) absolutely adores the computers. She went from an absolute beginner -- to being amazing on it over 2 weeks (of 30min-1hr time periods).  My DH and I both work for the school board in IT -- so we laugh, but it's a bit scary still.  In 2 weeks she's somehow figured out how to use both a mouse and a touch pad.  She navigates from game to game, knows how to control the webbrowser reasonably (minimize, scroll, back, reload).  She'll type in her name, do simple math problems (4+2, 3-1), can jump up and control the forward movement, its crazy - she's completely independent (as long as flash doesn't crash).  I just didn't expect to see computer use so soon.

She had very very little interest in computers until a few weeks.  I think she had used paint to scribble a few times (with help, she couldn't click and move the mouse at the same time), and typed her name into notepad.

[MomofSev]

Originally Posted by CA Mom 

I live and used to work in silicon valley. Computers are our world here. All three of my kids were proficient with a mouse and playing their own games by 2. My gifted kid by 15 months. I have no issues with screen time as long as it is balanced with other activities.

These are our feelings on the issue, too. My husband, son and I each have a laptop and a desktop computer. He does not sit on the computer all the time (he is WAY TOO ACTIVE for that) but when he wants to sit and occupy his mind, he usually uses the computer throughout the day.

[amberskyfire]

I have been up and down about computer use for a long time now and I think I've finally caved. DD turned 3 in March and a few months before her birthday, she got super interested in my computer and using it. I set up Starfall so that she could play it thinking it would be good since it teaches all kinds of readiness like reading readiness. She loved it. She loved it so much, in fact, that she requested daily computer time, so I let her have it half an hour a day.

My mother came to visit and, having heard that DD used my computer, BOUGHT HER A COMPUTER OF HER OWN. Like, a regular brand new adult laptop - just the tiny version so her fingers fit the keys better. I was too shocked to really know if I was okay with that or not. We have been a TV-free family and I thought that that would kind of carry over to computers as well.

DD picked up on the computer immediately. My husband (a computer guru) showed her how to use it and boy, does she ever use it. He had to put parental controls on it and she opens it, turns it on, goes to her favorite websites and pulls up Caillou videos on Netflix to watch. She turns it off herself and takes care of it as well as I would. She loves it and likes to use it when I'm doing work on my own computer. It's gotten so I have had to increase her time limit each day to one hour for her to feel as though she's gotten enough out of it.

I really don't feel comfortable with this but I keep telling myself "it's just one hour a day. No more." She doesn't use it that much each day, so she's not actually in front of it that long. I try to distract her with games and books which often works.

But I'm coming to terms with it. She's so young, but she's so good at it and likes it so much that I'm having a hard time enforcing limits. Her dad is a computer genius and I wonder sometimes if she's headed that direction as well. Plus, he has Asperger's and has a hard time connecting with her, so the two of them really do connect when dealing with computer stuff.

At this point, I am unhappily sitting on her side of the fence. I'll keep watching and see if I find anything negative to feel about it, but so far, she seems to be doing well and it makes her happy, plus she doesn't spend as much time on it as I imagine most older kids do. We'll see.

[karne]

I am coming to terms with the computer, or rather with my 9 y/o son's fascination and facility with anything to do with technology.  We were a low media/no media household for a long time.  We live in the country.  My kids take care of animals, garden, climb trees, swim, etc.  They are involved in a big way with the arts.  My ds loves all of it, AND loves technology and computer use.  It's a part of who he is, and I have no doubt it will play a significant role in his future.  He doesn't really have a balance at this point-we impose it, and I am OK with that.  Computer use is so compelling, it really sucks you in, and I don't expect that my kiddo is going to self regulate at this point.  It's just how it is at this stage in his life.

We have a great mix of artistic and techie/science oriented folks in our family (actually 2 sides of the same coin, IMO), so I see the integration quite well.

[DianeFuentes]

I love gaming, I have Xbox and a Wii so I'm highly encouraging my child to use the computer and other gadgets.Although there should always be a healthy balance between playing with tactile objects and experiencing the world as it happens and not just from a computer screen.

[MJB]

My oldest son doesn't really care to use the computer. He's 8.5.

My gifted son, who is 5.5, loves the computer. He uses it to look things up, to chat with family on facebook, and for educational games. He used starfall at 2 to learn letter sounds and basic CVC words, and at 3, used time4learning to work through their K, 1st, and 2nd grade reading curricula. He's never gotten more than about an hour a day (and that was in preschool when his days were full of free time) of computer and he doesn't watch TV or play Wii very often. 

The difference between my two sons' abilities on the computer is huge. If they want to know something, my second will look it up. If they want to chat with one of their aunts, he does the typing. I am really going to encourage my oldest to use the computer more this year so that he can catch up. He is just not comfortable with the technology and it's not going to get easier. 

[DianeFuentes]

MJB, is it because your older son wasn't exposed to computers early compared to your younger one? That might be a factor? Or he's just not interested?

[MJB]

I think he's not interested because, although we've always had computers in the house, we were strict about screen time when he was young and he probably didn't personally use a computer until 5+. He isn't a big fan of educational games. When he does use the computer, it's for games that don't teach. 

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by MJB When he does use the computer, it's for games that don't teach. 

What kind of games does he play? My kids enjoyed role playing games like Zoo Vet, which weren't really about "being educational" but they still learned a lot from them.

Now they are into to MMRPGs (I think those are the right letters) and I can see them getting stuff of out that, too. It's not something I want them to do for 24 hours a day, but mixed in with other things, I think it's an OK way to work with others, practice writing, think logically, etc. One of my DDs pointed out that it's the kids who are best at chess who are the best at a lot of these other kinds of games.

[DianeFuentes]

Originally Posted by MJB 

I think he's not interested because, although we've always had computers in the house, we were strict about screen time when he was young and he probably didn't personally use a computer until 5+. He isn't a big fan of educational games. When he does use the computer, it's for games that don't teach. 

I agree with Linda. Or maybe you can get him interested in art-related applications, like designing his own photos or something. I don't know what boys like. Or something related to sports. Some games aren't educational, but you can still learn a lot from them indirectly. Just don't encourage too much violence like those Counterstrike games.