Do you let your five year old to operate the computer?

I think its fine to let children on the computer. As long as they're respectful of the equipment and are taught properly about the dangers of using it. Correct parenting will ensure that they have controlled times to go on the computer and when its time to come off the computer, the parents should have the control to say "ok, its time to do ...... now" and the child should be obedient enough to respect their parents and do as they are told. They may want to stay on longer but as long as the parent upholds a healthy balance between the computer and the real world then I dont see a problem with it at all. There are so many educational programs they can use that its sometimes actually a very good skill to allow a child to develop at such an early age.

I believe in teaching them young. But they shouldn't be left on their own even though there are security measures installed. Besides we need to look into their physical aspects while they are working with the computers. You need to have some kind of a schedule for play and learning both indoor and outdoor. Kids should not be heard alone and they need to be told time and again of values they need to know.

But we can't avoid them doing so.Then they may be violent or try to operate it when we are not near.So,I think it is good to allow them to play with it only under our guidance.It is just disciplining with tv watching.We can succeed in it without letting them feel left out.

The youngest in the house is eight years old and no, I don't let him freely use my computer. I have various reason for that and one of it is he probably becomes addictive (he does show a tendency for that). I don't want him not to know how to use it at all so he use it from time to time under my surveillance eyes. But so far he only used the computer, not the Internet.

My daughter is 3 and in pre-k. They have computers in their classroom that they do daily assignments on. My son is 6 and finishing kindergarten this year. He has daily homework assignments. On top of those that have to do research on authors that they're learning about. So he has assignments to where he HAS TO go on the computer and put together research, AT 6 YEARS OLD. I just think its so crazy. Now as far as home and not pertaining to school, they ask to go on the computer to the PBS website, or Dora or Disney. I really don't like it because I think they're too young to be on the computer. But my husband will go on with them and go thru the sites with them. Its not a daily thing, maybe once a week. I think its good for them to learn new things, but not to be absorbed in them and not want to do other things. Thats why tv it limited, We read a few books everyday and I also have work books for them and art and crafts, They have recess everyday at school, and we take weekly family trips to the park or something outdoors so they're not stuck inside somewhere all the time. I don't think a little time hurts as long as its being used to educate them and help them.

yah, i let my daughter (3 year old to operate my computer she knows how to pause the game i'm playing when she needs errand. she plays some games like identifying objects and other toddlers game with my supervision and guidance so she cannot delete anything. its just a learning process for her.