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I have been thinking about letting my daughter try out some of the kid-friendly sites like Playhouse Disney. But I worry she will want to play on it all day if I introduce it to her. Right now, the computer is off limits to her.

Do you let your child go on? What are some good sites?

We let ours but she rarely wants to go on it. She likes this ELMO game. Originally we were going to the downtown library and she discovered their early learning computers with a whole bunch of fun learning games and wanted to play at home too but not very often. She goes through phases.

Sesame Street is a good one for the real young ones. G likes Noggin, Nick & NickJR, and Cartoon Network. I think some of the sites appeal to him more because he sees big sis on them.

I do allow G to have computer time. I just make sure to limit the time. Computers aren't bad in moderation. And they are great for learning when the right games are played. Not to mention that computer skills are a necessity for today's students.

I let my three year old use the computer...maybe a half hour a day and then sometimes some game time with Daddy in the evenings. She has been using it since she was almost three and she now can open her game and type in her password,(her name), and play her game all on her own and she is 3 and a half. She also closes the programs she is using down when she is done. Yes she does gripe sometimes when I tell her times up But now I set an egg timer near her and she doesn't really gripe anymore when it dings,(maybe a disgrunteled sigh)She plays learning games mostly from Blues clues and Dora. The only sites she visits are Playhouse Disney and Noggin. She amazes me at how comfortable and skilled she is while at the computer.

Oh yes, I have created this little monster! Macy liked to just type on a blank document for a while but then she saw us play games so she got more interested. We got her the Fisher Price Easy Link game console which I like because it only allows access to the specific sites associated with the character key you plug into the console AND it blocks cookies and spam. She is able to change sites, open the games she likes, and has a blast with it but I have not shown her how to log off as then she would have access to my files and she does know how to open them!! I am not thrilled with the system itself as the character sites go offline a bit more than I think is needed, but there are many to pick from. She even likes some characters online she has never seen on TV. I haven't found the need to limit her time (mine, maybe) as she tends to do a couple of things and then go off and find a more hands-on thing to do.

Now the thing that absolutely blows my mind is she can use Daddy's iPhone QUITE well!! She knows how to get to the music (definite metal head) and the games he has downloaded with no problem. I had to laugh the other night because she beat his high score on a game he got that day - she had never even seen it and went about 3 levels past him!!

Does banging on the keys count?

Michelle, I know what you mean. Both boys were playing on the floor with my husband last night. And I looked over to see what they were playing with -- it was a game on his iPod touch. How crazy is that?!

I think we might have to count banging on the keys because this morning when I went to help with a potty break, the 13 month old got to my keyboard and turned on something called "sticky keys" and I couldn't turn it off- had to reboot! I don't know if I am ready to admit he can outsmart me by just banging on the keys or hope that he is some sort of computing savant - but I think we all know that answer....

Lately my eldest has been wanting to play with the generic Microsoft Paint program that came with the computer. She likes to draw and color with it. I don't think she likes it as much as regular drawing and painting, but she just wants to use the mouse and keyboard since she sees me doing it so much. Honestly I think that's the main reason most kids want to play the computer from such a young age -- just because they see us doing it.

Michelle V wrote " I don't know if I am ready to admit he can outsmart me by just banging on the keys"

My girl does the same thing -- I think it's an instinctive prowess in causing havoc. In the stroke of a key Savannah can change my font size, lose 2 documents, and change my background image. I have no idea how she does it, because I can rarely figure out how to change it back.

quote:

Originally posted by Nathaniel Hensley:
Michelle V wrote " I don't know if I am ready to admit he can outsmart me by just banging on the keys"

My girl does the same thing -- I think it's an instinctive prowess in causing havoc. In the stroke of a key Savannah can change my font size, lose 2 documents, and change my background image. I have no idea how she does it, because I can rarely figure out how to change it back.

I hear ya!! and lets not even go into the 13 month old getting my cell phone, unlocking it, changing all settings and calling three people!! Thank goodness they were all family and tolerant of the babblings on their cells or voicemail! Hubby actually called me on the house phone and told me the boy had my phone and had called Daddy's cell!

My MIL bought a really nice learning program set for H last year for her birthday, and my mom bought her a Princess Pony game (you get to "dress" the ponies then "ride" them around a track..) she really likes them both and doesn't play every day, but she will play for hours if I let her.

E got a game from Publix around her birthday and she really likes it. Again..not everyday, but she would play as long as she wasn't hungry (that girl can eat)

Thanks for all the awesome suggestions. I do worry about her getting into something and deleting some important file, changing a setting, etc, so I'm pretty sure I will stay RIGHT beside her.

I guess it's time I let her on. Wow is she going to be excited! Maybe I'll let her use daddy's laptop...

Stacy - I think you can assign her a personal log on at the startup menu. I know when our desktop starts up it shows a picture for each person's sign on and we put her photo on hers and then no desktop links to anything but the Fisher Price Easy Link and Word so she can "type in color" as she puts it. Mind you, she will frequently click my sign on so we still have to watch her!

I let my 3 year old use the computer, completely supervised that is, either on playhouse disney or pbskids.org. I am also planning on putting a "play-computer" in their room for their learning games (no internet) but that will also be limited to probably half an hour a day, being that they will have to take turns especially.