Are Computers For Kids?

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Eric emailed to ask me what age I feel is good for a child to have their first computer, or access to one. He feels that it depends on the child in particular, and their level of responsibility. Personally, I feel there’s much more to it than that.

I believe that the younger the better when it comes to exposing kids to computers and technology. If you supervise and guide them, it can be an amazing learning experience — and not just about how to use a computer. Using a computer requires logic, and logic is a skill that the child will carry with them throughout their life. Video games are a great learning tool, and a way to pass the time. However, I strongly feel they should be supportive of the child’s computing experience, not the sum total of what they do.

I want to share with you a couple of emails I received after I posted the One Laptop per Child Video.

Hey Chris, I’m Krrose27 on IRC.

I’m 16 and got my first PC at age 5, which was given to me and my sister from our grandparents. For many years I did gaming. I then set up a Geocities Web site and started Web design about age 8 or 9. I now have taught myself PHP/MySQL, and run a test server out of my room and own two other Web servers. I took up Java programming about 2 years ago. I now am taking PC support at my high school, which is pretty much kids who work with the school’s network specialist and help him with the school computers. I recently built my first PC and love everything.

I’ve got a two-year-old at the house who has received his mother’s old laptop, and he has a blast on it. He frequents noggin.com — a Web site associated with the cable channel noggin. He definitely watches what I do on the computers and attempts to mimic it. He is already learning how to point and click. He is learning…

Sincerely, four_ones

I was watching when you recorded the video about children and technology. I, being 16, have grown up with technology all around me. My schools have always had computers, and my family got our first computer when Windows 98 came out. All I really did was use the Internet, but I was amazed by how information could be sent across the world in seconds. I have explored technology — mostly computers — as best I could. Since my mom is now single, and not very tech savvy, I am self-taught, mostly. Most of what I know is from exploring my family’s old eMachine (as I said, my mom’s not very tech savvy). Anyway, I found an interest in animation and started using Flash. After that, I started exploring Web site creation and other aspects of computers. Since computers are my future (I plan on being an animator — 3D design or something like that), I spend a decent amount of time on my computer. My mom is single, so we still used our eMachine from 2002 (about 215 MB RAM, 20 GB HD) which limited me in what I could do. My mom bought me a used Gateway (which is amazing compared to our old one) laptop, and now I am able to watch your feed! This new laptop has really set me free and is allowing me to get closer to my dream career. I think that a computer for a teen who is interested in technology is an investment in their future. Anyway, I’ve got to go to bed; it’s getting late.

ProBo