You can even ask the school for take-home pamphlets and resources for more info! As parents, the best way to keep your kids safe online is to educate them. Communication and trust are key to your child having a healthy and responsible relationship with computers and digital media. Although some may believe that coding is too complex to even be taught to kids, there is a reason schools include programming basics as part of general computer literacy.
Knowing how to code gives your child certain skills that they can use outside of programming. Coding for kids is a little more extensive and a little less generalized than the other topics. But for the most part, teaching coding basics to kids would include:. Regardless of how you may feel about it, technology is going to play a part in their life as they grow up.
From mobile phone apps to social media platforms to online games, your child is going to interact with some form of computer or digital media. The best thing you can do for them is to encourage responsible computer literacy.
Teaching them the basics as early as possible and as early as you deem appropriate will prove to be beneficial to them in the long run. Before we end this, here are a few professional tips we can offer when it comes to teaching computer basics for kids:.
Reiterate guidelines and teaching points as often as possible. If possible, try to have open, honest discussions before or after your child uses the computer. For pre-teens, tweens, and teens, respect their privacy. Let them have their own social media accounts and emails. In this day and age, technology is all around us. For the first time in history, kids are growing up in a digital household.
From their first long-distance Skype chat with Grandma and Grandpa to their first tablet, kids are experiencing technology in many different forms. There's a lot out there right now about kids using digital devices, but the importance of using a traditional laptop or desktop remains. There are still specific applications — such as graphic design and word processing — that require the use of a traditional computer.
As children progress in school, they'll spend more time writing papers and completing homework that requires them to sit in front of a computer screen. Many parents wonder when to start introducing kid-safe computer use and how to explain a computer to a child. Although each family will find slight variations in their practices and preferences when it comes to technology, there are age-specific guidelines to follow as you help your child become knowledgeable and responsible computer users.
If you have young children at home, you will most likely be in the market to purchase a kid-safe computer for the whole family to use. If you buy a laptop, you'll want a laptop case for preschoolers — one that will stand up to the wear and tear kids put on everything in your house. Parents of infants have priorities other than rushing out to buy their baby a laptop, but as your baby begins exploring the world around them, you'll notice them pushing buttons and responding to the noises and sounds of their electronic toys.
Don't let this interest fool you. Children under 3 don't have the physical or cognitive coordination needed to navigate a computer. They won't be able to click a mouse or follow characters around a screen to master an electronic game. Sure, you can include them if you're video chatting with a long-distance friend or watching a music video on YouTube, but you shouldn't allow infants and toddlers to have any regular screen time at this point.
As a parent of a young child, devote the earlies years of their life to helping them have technology-free experiences. Emphasize face-to-face interactions with friends and relatives as much as possible. Encourage interactive play over tablets and television, especially outdoor play.
This real-world exploration is going to set a vital foundation for the experiences your child will have and the ways they view technology for the rest of their life. Whether your child is 2 or 12, it's never too early to begin establishing a safe technology environment at home. Using technology should be an active experience that involves children and their parents at every stage.
When your child begins to use a computer, it's time to consider the following. When you use technology appropriately, it can enhance your family's life. But when it gets overused or used inappropriately, it can cause a variety of problems. As soon as your oldest child begins using a computer, it's time to set up a family media plan that outlines expectations about how and when to use technology, and how long they can use it at any one sitting. No pounding or other physical abuse. Let your child know that laptops should be moved with care.
Always be within arms reach in case your child is overly ambitious with his or her laptop wielding intentions. Education about the mouse should be one of your first lessons since most computer commands come from the mouse instead of the keyboard.
Let your youngster use whichever hand is most comfortable. And since they are just getting started, children usually switch back and forth between clicking fingers. To make things easier, modify the mouse settings on the computer for slower mouse speed.
Always watch to make sure your child is being respectful of the computer. After teaching your children the basics, let them loose. Give them time to manipulate by themselves. Children will learn faster if they are allowed to play on their own instead of parents teaching them hand-over-hand.
It is best if you teach proper typing techniques from the very beginning so they never resort to the hunt-and-peck method. Invest in a software program to teach proper hand and finger placement.
So how do you keep your kids safe online? This will help you block the most objectionable websites and language. You will need to be an active part of keeping your child safe by teaching them responsible online behavior and by monitoring online activities. It may be helpful to set some basic rules when kids are first introduced to the computer, introducing them to the idea of privacy. For example:. This is also a good time to explain spam, phishing, malware and other tactics and tools designed to capture personal information.
Teaching internet safety becomes more complicated with older kids and teens, who often have their own devices and want more privacy. The best thing you can do, however, is simply to be present. Request Info. Computer basics for kids: Important skills, Internet Safety and More.
Read on for some important computer basics for kids. When should you introduce your child to the computer? Teaching your child how the computer works The best way to introduce your child to a computer is to start them on a family laptop or desktop rather than a tablet or phone.
What are some important computer skills for kids? Typing Good keyboard skills are essential when children are learning at school; studies show that touch typing increases accuracy and the speed with which kids can type. Email When your child gets older, they may ask for an email address to keep in touch with friends, or they may need one for school.
Parent's Email.
0コメント