Computers have become an integral part of home and schoolwork. Research carried out by TechAddiction found that six percent of the surveyed children less than eight years old already use a computer for homework, while 10% use educational software. These days it is important that even children are introduced to the world of computers as early as possible. Here are some simple tips that can help you to achieve that goal.
Lay a Strong Foundation by Teaching Best Practices
To build a good foundation for future computer use, teach your toddler how to take care of a computer. For instance, make your child understand that food, drinks and computers do not go well together and so one should always keep them apart. Most importantly, remember to follow this rule yourself so that your child can learn by example. Additionally, emphasize the fact that he should always handle all computer accessories gently since pounding them or any other form of physical abuse will definitely damage them. If you are using a laptop, let your child know that one needs to handle the gadget with extreme care always. If possible, always be within arm’s reach in case your child becomes overly enthusiastic with the device.
Explain the Components
Introduce your child to basic computer terminologies as well as the basic components such as the keyboard, mouse, CD/DVD drive, monitor, and the hard drive. As you introduce the components, try to explain how each component of the computer works using the simplest language possible.
Teach How to Use the Mouse
Since the mouse is one of the main input devices for most computers, teaching your child how to use it should be one of the first lessons. Because the youngster is just getting started, you may allow her to use any finger to click the buttons on the mouse. Most importantly, allow your child to use whichever hand she prefers. To make things easier, adjust the settings on the computer for a slower mouse speed. Keep in mind that your youngster is still developing motor skills. Therefore, you should be patient with her.
Teach Your Child How to Type
Children are generally fast learners. Therefore, it is best to introduce your child to proper typing skills from the very start so that the child does not have to result to the hunt-and-peck method. What’s more, do not hesitate to invest in a good typing program complete with typing games and tutorials that your child can use to perfect the newly acquired skills. Most importantly, do not forget to teach the youngster how to use the Microsoft Office suite, especially Word. This is because the child is likely to use this word processor to create documents in the future.Start with the basics, such as typing short documents and saving them on various locations on a computer. Once the child is comfortable with typing, introduce him to more features such as changing font size and color, and inserting shapes and pictures.
Introduce the Internet
Begin with teaching the child how to enter specific queries and keywords into various search engines. As you do this, emphasize how different phrases give different results. In addition, show your child how to detect reliable and legitimate sources of information. It is important to let our child learn that the Internet is more than just a source of fun computer games; it is a resource tool.
Overall, you should help build your child’s computer literacy as early as possible. Some of ideal computer lessons for a child include computer basics, typing and basic editing lessons, and the Internet.
Editor’s note: You should have parental controls in place on your computer before allowing your child access. Most computers have some basic tools built into the operating system or browser. Additional tools may come with your anti-virus program or through your Internet service provider. One good safe way to allow your children limited access to the internet is through Club Tuki.
See Also:
- Teaching Your Kids Money Management Skills
- Teaching Kids Money Management Skills and Entrepreneurship
- 10 Ways To Teach Your Children About Money
- Budgeting for a Baby
- Entrepreneurship Helps Kids Prepare for the Best MBA Programs
- Tax Deductions for New Parents
Resources:
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Deluxe – 25th Anniversary Edition SB | Bitdefender Total Security 2013 Value Edition M2 – 3PCs/2Years | Family Protection 3PCs 2013 | Learning Microsoft Word 2013 – Training DVD |
