Kids and computers...Do you let them?

Tell your little guy that he did very well. It was nice of him to type a message to us. My daughter started typing on my computer when she was three. She would type messages to her dad all the time. Though what she typed didn't make any sense he would always respond to her asking her different questions. It was so cute. That is one of the ways my daughter learned to type actually. She is one of the best in her class.

Foxyfire, what a wonderful idea....I too let my four yr old have a few computer games which he plays on my desktop almost every night, we have looked at pbs, nick, seasame street and some of the other child's sites. I think that they will need to know about computers...so I encourage it. his message----back to your son, I guess...LOL 1tetr3tr3yu4ytryi4titgfhgfsjggfcxcvbcbcbvccnmaccccvbff find your name, son....alex (this took 2 1/2 minutes)...not bad hgjhghruthgrkjhtrhytuerytui576i7485y68

I would not let a four year old get on the computer. Why not get one of those toy computers from Fisher Price or a company like that? There is too much that will go wrong and you can't watch them 24 hours a day. I had one of those old TRS 80s and the kids did not get on it until they were going to high school. It also gives a wrong impression - i.e. the computer is for the kids and not for the adults.

This is an adult forum. COME ON! Get real!

Well, tell him Hello from me too! :o) My lo is too young to be on a pc, so I don't know what our reaction will be when he's old enough. I don't see anything wrong with 'educational' use of the pc, but I guess you have to be careful with what's out there. I have friends that allow their children on the pc, but only to run their 'educational' software. My dh and I are on the pc everyday, so i'm sure our lo will be on it too, but don't know at what age.

Wow I think IMing at this age is too young but it is cute in a way. My 8yr old just started learning how to get to sites to play games last year but thats cause she only has certain ones she allowed that is on her own favs. She does not have an email adderss or can NOT IM yet either that I might let her next year but heavly montered of course. My almost 4 year old just sits with me or her sister and we let her try and play games but she is still learning the keys and I do not have my IM on when my kids are on the computer.

My older two did not get the benefit of a computer when they were small. When they were 9 and 7 we got a 386 and it really didn't do much but i had some games like reader rabbit and math game and things like this that they would use. Now my youngest was born when a computer in our home is just another thing. She has been on it with me since she could sit up on her own. I would go to sites for young children and play the game for her and she would just watch. As she got older she learned the mouse she goes on for a bit each day. Monitored of course my computer is right across from the couch so i can see what everyone does when they are on it. She has her own folder with the sites she is allowed to go onto and can navigate it herself. The way i look at it the computer is used everyday in our life my kids use it at school and home even Emma has it in her J.K class so i see no harm in allowing computer time to her.

My second son just turned 5 around the start of Janurary this year and he got his computer from santa (my husband) when he was 3. We didn't let him online until he was almost four years old. I know that it sounds a little young but the computer is right off from the front room so if i want to know what he is doing or his older brother all that i have to do is stand behind him and look. They love to go to Nickjr.com , Disney chanel.com , PBSkids.com , and a few other ones. It's all game sites and i let them play as long as they don't try to talk to anyone. I'm a member of pogo and i let my soon to be 7 year old talk to him one friend down in indiana when they are both in the same room. It's more of a private chat thing but the to boys have a blast talking to each other. I'm strict on most of the sites and games that they want to play. They know that some of the games i feel are to viliant for them and they won't play them because i said so and if they try to play i either take away the internet or shut down the computer. As long as there are ground rules then you shouldn't worrie about the age. Just make sure that he knows what he can and can't do while on the computer and you will feel like the best mother on earth when it all works out great.

Hi to your little mylotter:-))) Hope that soon he can write to us more and tell us about himself. I have no kids, but when i had a cat-she was a tapewriter too. She tried to knock on the keyboard and reacted to the pics on the display. Well, you can let him try. This is the era of the global comunication, dont forget:-) But try also to give him enough good paper books, encourage him to play more with his friends...the computer must not be the only thing he enjoys to:-)

I do believe that that is a very ancient and powerful language:) Only one person, maybe two people living today can interpret it. You son is probably one of them.

=) my son started typing at the age of 1 and a half. hes been typing to my friends at yahoo messenger. my friends go crazy why im typing roman or grecian scripts! they cant understand. what they dont know is that when i work and just for him to stop crying i would put him on my lap not knowing hes doing something with my YM! hes typing anything! now my son is 5, he knows how to turn on and off the computer and knows how to activate the internet that is why i had to lock the door when im doing myLot coz im sure i could not write anything.

That's cute Foxyfire! My daughter is 4 years old too. But the only thing she wants to do with the computer, is to play games and listening to music. I let her used the computer early so she will be familiarize with the use of the mouse. And recognize symbols and images. It's very fun and she doesn't get tired of it. But I don't let her alone, because with the internet connection. You may never know if something indecent will pop out suddenly.(^^,)

haha.. i think it's not advusable to let your little one to play the computer.. look.. if you think in his point of view.. yes.. you might want him to learn something.. but .. look in the point of view of mylotters.. we will think you're trying to spam.. haha.. so.. it's okay to let him play.. but you have to teach him to type properly.. by the way.. i disagree with letting kids to play computer games.. i think games are addictive.. and many teenagers in my country are hooked to it.. it's like.. they're thinking that they can survive with playing games.. which is very wrong =) .. anyway.. i start playing computer at the age of 9 :)

wow that is school cool i got my first computer when i was only 17... So your kid is really lucky

my nephew loves my computer so much. when i first got my unit, i let him do Paint. he's awesome, the one he made was great and actually i made it as my desktop picture image. dont worry, kids are fun like yours.

My neice started on a computer at that age. They do have programs for them that help teach them basics like their letters and numbers. She loved it. I think the program was called Jumpstart. It had different levels you could buy based on age or grade levels. She would like to type messages in to my IM's when she was able to. She loved getting a message back. So with that in mind: Hi :) '.'

smart child...hahahahahhahaha...but if you ask me about kids and computer...i do let them this is the science maybe he/she can be a hacker.lol.

This is so cute and it is amazing that you allow him to share his message... his message is just as important as yours and maybe even more important because he sees himself without limitations and invicible... that is how kids are and that is how they should stay... however, when they grow up they start getting limitations and acquiring these traits from us adults... I am a mother that allows my child to choose what he wants to do, eat, dress in and so forth... only he knows what he is capable of doing and if we stop them from doing those things then we are in a way putting limitations on them... Keep up the great work and make sure that he knows that his message was the most significant message that was ever posted on mylot... that is the greatest sense of self you can give your child... way to go mom!

Well he is doing good, for his age and he's already on the typing mode! Just keep encouraging him and you will be proud of him. I have no kids, if u guys mind just be wondering, not married also! Just been a computer freak and made major studies in computers as well. I just think it is very good to encourage your kids to learn the basic pc skills and of course have a lot of fun at the same time. This will just help them to be more computer literate in the future. Some of my workmates disagree to letting their kids to play with computers - they say it will only harm them being addicted at a young age and will be more influenced towards pc games etc... rather than studying. Well i see them all wrong! It is just another way of learning!!!! What do you guys think?

I don't have any kids, but myself I started at an age of around 4~5 as well. Quite a lot of years ago now, but I don't think it has done me any bad. Especially with the younger parents though I fail to see the reasons for not letting their kids on.