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"MOUSE TALES:"  YOUNG CHILDREN AND COMPUTERS
by Courtland Funke

I got my first home computer almost 20 years ago.  As a 30 year old, I have been working with computers for two-thirds of my life.  That seems like a long time but computers as an industry and as a teaching tool are still in their infancy.  It is only within the past few years that most schools are beginning to create computer labs and hire certified teachers to run them. As these schools struggle to equip their labs and develop technology curriculums, many questions arise concerning teaching our children about computers.   

When to introduce the computer

Some people will tell you that there is a specific age at which a child should first be exposed to a computer.  For example, Jane Healy, Ph.D., author of  Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds and What We Can Do About It (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999), believes that children should not touch a computer until the age of seven.  At the other end of the spectrum are those who feel that it is appropriate to introduce infants to computers.  There is actually software on the market that is geared for babies.  I happen to believe that, since every child is an individual, each child should be exposed to her first computer when she is ready and comfortable.  As an elementary school teacher, I have seen kindergartners with computer skills that far surpass those of some fourth graders.  It would be a shame to rob some children of several years' experience on a computer because it was decided that all five-year-olds are too young to use it effectively. 

Getting started

So how do we start children out?  The best way is to let them gravitate to the computer on their own.  I have a friend whose three-year- old son, Jack, is already fairly proficient on their home computer.  He began by sitting on his father's lap while he worked at home.  Soon, Jack began to play simple educational games from the "Putt Putt" series.  However,  Jack had trouble manipulating the mouse (a task that can be difficult for many children).  His father solved the problem by buying him a track ball. (Think of a track ball as a mouse turned upside down.  The user manipulates the ball  directly and clicks the buttons separately.)

Jack's difficulty using a mouse is not unusual for young children.  Many have trouble  because it is hard to click the buttons while keeping the device still. This can be a frustrating experience and can often turn children away from computers, especially when they know what they want to do but can't physically manage it.

Choosing software

Start kids out with software that is simple.  Easy point-and-click games with recognizable characters like the "Putt Putt" or "Blues Clues" series give young children the practice they need to refine their motor skills while at the same time reinforcing the basic math and reading concepts that they are learning in school.

As children get older, games are fine, but in the classroom I prefer to teach software that encourages my students to be creative.  Programs like "Kid Pix" and "Hyperstudio" allow young children to create multimedia presentations using photographs, drawings, sound, and video.  Without any instruction,  most five-year-olds should be able to draw a simple picture using any of the many drawing tools that come in the basic Kid Pix package.  With a little practice, most children can import a graphic, write a sentence, and record their voice for inclusion in a slide show.  Kid Pix will even allow you to save slide shows as QuickTime movie files, which are supported on most home PCs. 

If I make it sound as though any five-year-old is able to use a mouse and a keyboard with comfort and ease, that is not my intent.  There are many young children who are uncomfortable using a computer, even though they possess the maturity and the motor skills necessary to use a mouse.  For whatever reason, some kids just don't feel comfortable on a computer.  This poses a problem only when their parents force them to learn, believing that they will need computer skills in order to compete in the job market when they graduate from college. 

While it is true that computer skills are a must in this day and age, there is plenty of time in a child's life to learn computer skills.  Forcing a child to sit down at a computer against his wishes will only heighten his fear.  If your child is uncomfortable using a computer,  try some of these ideas:

• Provide your child with her own computer. Let her know that there is nothing she can do to break the computer or get in trouble. Many children are afraid that they will erase a document or somehow damage the computer.
  

• Work with him. Don't just sit a child at the computer and walk away.  Play games with him. Draw pictures with him. Have fun together.
  

• Don't expect a child to remember something after doing or hearing it once. Most computer commands are learned through repetition. Remember that there are close to 50 keys on a computer keyboard. We often take for granted our familiarity with such things, but that can be overwhelming for a young child. Be patient and answer your child's questions.

Keyboarding

Finally, I would like to comment on keyboarding.  This is probably one of the most important skills a child can learn and many parents are anxious to teach their children how to type.  Don't rush into it.  Keyboards are designed for adults and most children are not physically ready to type until they are in at least third grade.  Most schools will not start their students on a keyboarding program until they have reached the age of eight. If children learn to type when their hands are still too small, one of two things may happen:

1. They may become increasingly frustrated by being unable to perform the correct key reaches, which might turn them off from keyboarding (and computers) altogether.

2. They may have to compensate by putting their hands in improper positions, creating habits that will be hard to break when their bodies grow to the appropriate size.

Remember that, for young children, computers should be fun.  Don't teach children as you would train an employee.  Let the computer be a toy before you let it become a tool.

RECOMMENDED EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE

"The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis." A favorite of both my  students and mine.  Fun enough to keep them coming back for more but requires a large amount of critical thinking in order to be successful.

"Stardust."  You can't buy this in stores (it is available on the Internet as a free download) and it's only available for Macintosh computers, but it will keep you and your child busy for weeks. At a glance, it looks like the kinds of games you may have played as a child in an arcade but it's much more.  I like this game for two reasons: 1) it requires a large amount of critical thinking in order to complete a level, and 2) unlike most arcade games, there is no death. The game only ends when you decide to quit.

"Jump Start." I am impressed with the software designed for the lower grade levels. Various activities reinforce concepts taught to Pre K - 8 grade.

KEYBOARDING SOFTWARE

Mavis Beacon is an industry standard, (but most keyboarding software is similar).

Avoid software that looks "cartoony," as there is no fun way to learn to type.

MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE

For older students, multimedia software can be both useful and fun.

Hyperstudio and PowerPoint are two of the more popular titles.  Both can be expensive so make sure your child will use them before purchasing.

 On Line Resources

www.funbrain.com - A great resource for math and language arts games.

www.kidsdomain.com - Wonderful resource for reviews or demos of software designed for children. 

Courtland Funke, M.Ed., teaches computers at Tripp Elementary School in Buffalo Grove (K-4). He also teaches through the Center for Gifted at National-Louis University.