When Should Children Be Introduced to Computers?

cjsteele asks: "When should kids be introduced to computers and the Internet? I'm torn between the prospect of giving my children a technological edge versus giving them an appreciation for more traditional ways of learning and researching (and entertainment, etc.) Though the question is open for rampant conjecture, what does Slashdot think? Early and often or slow and controlled?" Slightly tangential to an issue that was covered earlier this week, aside from the average video game, what is the ideal age for kids to begin seriously learning about computers. "All of this comes as the result of my kids (3 & 2 years old) getting a Fisher-Price InteracTV for Christmas. This is the first step towards 'e-learning', and after watching my kids adapt to how the system works, I began to wonder in what ways this method of learning shapes later cognitive development. The big concern I have here is that the KIDS had to do the adapting, not the technology -- that means the way THEY think is being affected, which gets me a bit queezy. Any thoughts or advice?"

Comments

If ever something cried out for a poll...

[andreMA]

() first trimester
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() Cowboy Neil is my Daddy

Why is the computer different?

[BigZaphod]

I imagine they have TV access. Maybe video games. Radio. Books. Etc. Why would computers be any different than any of those other technologies they have to adapt to?

Kids are built to adapt. They come into the world with pretty much a blank slate and continuously discover and adapt to the world as it is. This is exactly what you want them to be doing because otherwise they won't be able to deal with reality later in life. It is their job to do the adapting at this point in life.

They should be exposed to as much as possible in a controlled manner while they are young. The control is there so that they can pace themselves and don't get hurt. It is your job to protect them but also to get them ready for an adult life. Contrary to what most parents want, kids will not be kids most of their lives. The worst thing you can do to them is deny them access to knowledge of key elements of their world. Bring the computers to them early just like everything else. Teach them to pace their lives. Teach them the priorities you believe would be best. Then sit back and let them adapt to the world. They will be infinitely more prepared for the future this way and will be able to adapt to the next big things that come down the line in 25 years when you're sitting on your couch in front of your old-fashioned PC connecting to the Web with all of your other elderly friends while the youngsters moves on to other things.

when they are interested

[carstenw]

my daughter is 7 now, and since she was 6, and even a little when she was 5, she has been interested in my computer. i have bought a learning-english program for her (i live in germany with a german girlfriend), and allow her to play it in small doses, ie. about 1 hour at a time, max. she doesn't notice herself when she gets grumpy from too much time in front of the computer, so it has to be supervised. i also allow her to have fun on certain fixed websites, from time to time, but less so. she loves all this, and i don't detect any problems with respect to setting priorities in life, or dealing with other people. the key point is moderation, and supervision. the computer is not a babysitter, but i believe that kids who are comfortable with computers will have less problems later on. she also likes the paint program, but just for 30 minutes at a time. finally, we also do some two-with-computer work, with me doing 3d modeling and her making the calls, and occasionally helping out, so she can get a glimpse at the larger picture.

Avoid them until adolescence

[SofaMan]

Based on the other comments in this thread, I have a feeling I'm going to be flamed to death, but here goes:

I'm a professional educator, who teaches Design & Technology at a secondary level (before this I was a web designer for almost a decade), and I'm fairly strongly of the opinion that students really have no business being given any significant exposure to computers before high school.

Some have made the argument about "computers are part of the world" and "get them used to them as early as possible". The first statement is true, but in no way justifies the second.

Firstly, learning in the primary years has a very strong social component, where students are not primarily learning facts and "how-to's", but are fundamentally learning how to interact and communicate with others and the natural environment. Computers can impair this in subtle ways, since they are not fundamentally interactive, but only give the illusion of being so - no matter how many choices a computer program gives you, they are still finite in number, and have been decided upon by someone else (i.e. a program designer). A bucket of sand is more interactive and valuable for a child than a computer. Even interpersonal interaction via computer (i.e. IM, email, etc.) have been stripped of key interpersonal cues (facial expression, voice tone, gesture, etc.) vital to a mature understanding of meaning in communication. Once children become more mature in the fundamentals of social interaction, then we can consider introducing them to computers, as they are in a better position to be aware of their limitations.

Secondly, unexposed children's computer knowledge appears to catch up quite quickly with those who were exposed early if they are exposed in adolescence, with the added benefit that they are more likely not to have had any social skills compromised through excessive computer use (and less face it, children's computer use is far more likely to have been relatively uncontrolled by parents, rather than carefully monitored).

I could also talk about the role of handwriting in effective language formation (as opposed to keyboard use), but what I've written is a good preliminary argument - I may expand in reply to the reponses of others if it seems to need it.

In summary - computers are a tool, not a way of life. They have good applications and bad ones. Adolescents are better equipped than young children to be able to distinguish the benign from the harmful.

Cars are a part of life too, but we don't teach young children how to drive - we wait until they have the necessary maturity to be able to use that tool effectively, and even then we are frequently disappointed.

Computers are not as physically dangerous as cars, granted, but there should be a recognition that they are a powerful tool nonetheless, that can shape people in important ways. As with cars and any other powerful tool, we should attempt to impart the maturity to deal with and use them effectively before handing over the keys.