[ILUG] software for kids

[Thomas Bridge]

On 24/09/2007, Daniel Shaw <dshaw78 at gmail.com> wrote:

> However, for what it's worth, my feeling is that there is no such
> thing as software that is ideal for kids under a year old as a child
> that young has no business playing with a computer at all. He will
> probably spend more than enough time in front of a screen later in
> life whether he gets into IT or not. Get rid of the Vaio and get the
> poor child a sandpit or a wooden train set or something. I am firmly
> of the opinion that no child should go anywhere near any computer at
> least until they are old enough to ride a bicycle and tie their own
> shoe laces.

Do you have kids?

My son is nearly 18 months, and I'm told that today he climbed on the
chair at nursery and started bashing away at their keyboard.    At a
guess, he got that from watching his parents (my wife uses a webcam to
show him off to his grandparents in Singapore).

Small boys in particular seem to reach an age when they love following
their fathers around and want to do what Daddy does.    If that
involves kicking a ball around, then that's fine.   If he sees his
Daddy using a laptop/computer he wants to get involved.   It even
sometimes gets to the stage he'll eat rice of Daddy's plate, but not
his own.

My point is that John and I are both geeks - it's natural that our
sons want to play with computers.

Having said that, the ideal solution is not a Vaio or even a tough
book, but find a football, and kick it around and make lots of noise
and laughter (or pick him and "charge" as though you're in a ruck).
Bonus points if you annoy Mummy with the noise.

Thomas

-- 
Thomas Bridge
CCIE  #14108