Using Computers with Children at Home
Computers have become an essential part of today’s world. At school teachers integrate computers into daily learning to enhance children’s cognitive and social development and help them learn to use technology effectively.
Computers and the Internet enable children to explore the world in a new way and provide resources to answer a variety of questions. Many children may enjoy playing on the computer alone or with a friend. In addition, teachers have found that children benefit even more from their time at the computer when they spend time reviewing the selected Internet sites, games, or activities with them first. This enables the teachers to explain rules for the computer and Internet, preview games and Internet sites for age-appropriate activities, as well as have conversations with children about what they are learning on the computer. Spending time together on the computer provides an opportunity for a shared learning experience and for adults to share the purpose of computer-based activities.
Here are a few tips to help you and your family use computers and the Internet at home:
• Balance computer time with a variety of other experiences such as books, outdoor play, drawing, board games, toys, art projects, blocks, etc.
• Most children are ready to begin using computers at the age of three under adult supervision and guidance. They will pick up use of a mouse and keyboard quickly given the opportunity. Special child-sized keyboard and mouse are also available to better fit small hands.
• Discuss rules of computer use and demonstrate the various parts of a computer prior to use by children.
• Meet with your child’s teachers to coordinate and reinforce school learning with computer activities at home. Families have access to links and activities related to weekly School Units of Learning themes through the Theme-Related Links under the School-to-Home section of School Parents’ Place on the school website.
• Select online activities and software that provide a variety of creative learning opportunities such as early word processing skills and the review of academic skills such as number and letter recognition, etc.
• Use web quests to help children learn more about a particular subject or to answer a question about a topic. Families all have access to searchable websites through School Parents’ Place. Resources include online encyclopedias, safe web quests, and more.
• Allow children to print the work they have done on the computer to demonstrate tangible results of their work.
Computers and the Internet enable children to explore the world in a new way and provide resources to answer a variety of questions. Many children may enjoy playing on the computer alone or with a friend. In addition, teachers have found that children benefit even more from their time at the computer when they spend time reviewing the selected Internet sites, games, or activities with them first. This enables the teachers to explain rules for the computer and Internet, preview games and Internet sites for age-appropriate activities, as well as have conversations with children about what they are learning on the computer. Spending time together on the computer provides an opportunity for a shared learning experience and for adults to share the purpose of computer-based activities.
Here are a few tips to help you and your family use computers and the Internet at home:
• Balance computer time with a variety of other experiences such as books, outdoor play, drawing, board games, toys, art projects, blocks, etc.
• Most children are ready to begin using computers at the age of three under adult supervision and guidance. They will pick up use of a mouse and keyboard quickly given the opportunity. Special child-sized keyboard and mouse are also available to better fit small hands.
• Discuss rules of computer use and demonstrate the various parts of a computer prior to use by children.
• Meet with your child’s teachers to coordinate and reinforce school learning with computer activities at home. Families have access to links and activities related to weekly School Units of Learning themes through the Theme-Related Links under the School-to-Home section of School Parents’ Place on the school website.
• Select online activities and software that provide a variety of creative learning opportunities such as early word processing skills and the review of academic skills such as number and letter recognition, etc.
• Use web quests to help children learn more about a particular subject or to answer a question about a topic. Families all have access to searchable websites through School Parents’ Place. Resources include online encyclopedias, safe web quests, and more.
• Allow children to print the work they have done on the computer to demonstrate tangible results of their work.
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