Does your child's preschool have a computer that the kids use as part of their learning?

[JoshandJamie]

And if so, are you happy about it?

The benefits are obviously the development of computer skills early on as pcs are so much part of life these days, but it seems to fly in the face of kids spending too much time in front of screens and not having an active life.

Everything in moderation I suppose, but I just wondered how prevalent computer usage is amongst preschoolers and what people's thoughts on it are.

[zubb]

Yes, pre-school has one, and ds2 uses it for about 10 minutes a week! It is not included in teh free play choices that the kids have - mainly because there would be a figt over it! - so they use it for specific key-worker time.

[RustyBear]

Assuming you're talking about state schools, I don't think there's much danger of them having enough money to get enough computers for the children to spend any significant amount of time on them, let alone too much time.

[JoshandJamie]

Thanks Zubb. While I'm asking questions, here's another: do you let your preschooler spend time on a computer at home - either alone or with you helping?

[Blu]

The teacher in DS's pre-school wheeld the trolley with the computer behind a cupboard and never brought it out again. She was a Montessori based teacher (although it wasn't a Montesori nursery) and was strongly in favour of them developing all sorts of basic skills before computers. I was happy with her decision.

[oliveoil]

ours has 2 computers, no idea when they go on them

we have a laptop at home and they very rarely use it as dd2 likes to hit it

dd1 goes on with dh sometimes when I put dd2 to bed

[hunkermunker]

No, there isn't one.

And he sits with me sometimes at the PC, and has his own Thomas The Tank Engine toy laptop that has a mouse you use to choose things and click and a keyboard (but one in alpha order, not a qwerty one) - he's fab with that.

[JoshandJamie]

Because my children aren't of school going age yet, I have no idea how prevalent computers are at schools. But I was told recently that most parents who havent got kids in school yet, would be gobsmacked with the number of computers they have - and this person was talking about state schools. In fact he even told me about one state primary school that had 250 pcs on site for the pupils to use! No idea which school that was and he did say it was the exception to have that many, but still, I wasn't aware that the use of pcs at school was so extensive.

My son goes to a nursery and is in the preschool at the nursery. They have a pc which they have to take turns on and they're allowed to use it for their freeplay - but there's a timer so they all get a chance.

AT home my son begs to 'do cbeebies on your puter' - and occasionally I let him, because I've been trying to limit him getting screen time. But am now wondering whether I should be actively encouraging him more.

[zubb]

I occassionally let ds1 and ds2 on my computer (they are 5 and 3). They always play the same game - one with knights in - that requires a few clicks of the mouse - I stay in teh same room to break up the fights!
Ds1 is in reception and they have computer time every Wednesday morning in the computer room - there aren't any computers in their classroom.

[nailpolish]

dd1's preschool ahve a computer and she comes home from time to time with drawings she has done on it

dh works in IT so we have 2 computes in house and dh regularly plays with dds on laptop

dd's are also ace on xbox (they are 4 and 2)

[IdrisTheDragon]

DS is 3.4 and as far as I know there isn't a computer at pre-school.

He also loves using the laptop. I don't encourage it too much as it cuts down on Mumsnetting .

I'm wondering about getting an ordinary mouse as he struggles with the laptop's touch pad.

[portonovo]

Our playgroup has a laptop and the children love it, but we only bring it out once or twice a week, for one-to-one or small group work.

When mine were pre-school age, they were allowed on the computer, but it was rationed in just the same way the television was. Still is, in fact!

[gemmiegoatEGGS]

my ds' nursery class has a computer that they can choose during free play, taking turns within reason. My ds is especially into using the computer and also has a couple of games that he plays at home, pingu etc, which are educational. I can see how great he is on the pc and how skillful at doing the controls etc. At the mo I think it is a good thing to do in moderation. i would not like him to be a teenager who spends 10 hours a day on the pc so I limit his time.

His nursery teacher commented on his computer skills and I instantly felt guilty as If i'd been abusing him leaving him at the computer all day! Saying that it helped him a lot in learning his numbers and he has got very good hand-eye cooordination

[Clary]

Wonder why parents would be gobsmacked at number of computers in schools -gobsmacked that there weren't enough maybe?

Keyboard skills will be vital for our children. I want mine to learn how to use a computer (within limits of course and also under supervision eg as to websites) and wish there were more in our middle class and therefore underfunded state school.

In answer to the OP, yes there is one at DS2's nursery school, with a timer, or some kids would never get off it,. Don't think he's that bothered tho, certainly never heads in theer first off.

[JoshandJamie]

Gemmie - that is my very point. I've always felt that using computers was in the same league as TV - that it was in someway bad. Obviously any child sitting in front of either all day isn't good, but it seems strange that in general, we get embarrassed or think we've been bad mums if our kids have too much computer time - but actually, it is a skill that is really needed and according to this chap I spoke to, it is a major thing at school and therefore even more important that they get a headstart with computer skills before they enter school.

[McDreamy]

Yes DD's preschool has one and a larger touch screen too. The screen also shows photos of the children during class and is updated all the time so at hometime we can all see what's been going on.

I think computers will be so much more of our children's lives then they are ours and although I think that gaming etc needs to be monitered using computers is a valuable skill that is best learned as early as possible.

[RustyBear]

If there really is a state primary with 250 pcs then I would think they must have got some exceptional funding from somewhere!

In our junior school with about 220 pupils, we have an ICT suite with 16 computers, which means a class can use them in pairs, or for half the class time, doing a paper/book based activity the rest of the time. Each year group (2 classes) gets to use the suite for one afternoon a week, plus the Friday session once a month. Then each year group gets 3 1-hour morning sessions a week, which they usually use for Maths, Literacy or Science, though they sometimes use them for research on the topic they are currently covering.

In addition, each class has an interactive whiteboard which is usually run off the teacher's laptop, with connection to the school network & the internet. Each class also has an average of 2 stand-alone pcs, but these are pretty old, mostly being the old ICT suite Windows 98 computers from when our suite was replaced 18 months ago. These computers are usually used for Maths & word games or for literacy interventions, working one to one with a TA.

Our ICT co-ordinator is looking at having a set of 30 laptops, so each child can have one or a lesson - access to these would be roughly the same level as the ICT suite.

This level of provision is pretty typical in our area, which is a pretty affluent one, which means that the council gets less government funding.

[aintnomountainhighenough]

My DDs preschool have a computer. I think they do drawing etc on it. I believe that using a mouse is one of the items on the early years list of stuff they need to learn to do (don;t understand why this is the case though)

I do feel that the emphasis on computing is too much and I cant really the see benefit of them starting this as early as possible. There are so many things a computer can do but actually you need to have a lot of knowledge about things before you can use a computer to do them! For example using Excel - the people who use it to is fullest are people who understand how to use the formula, graphs etc. A child can't possibly understand even a fraction of the programme without some maths knowledge!

[misdee]

dd2 nursery has a pc, she brings me home some pictures she has drawn using the artbox. they have interactive whiteboard in one room as well.

dd1 school has a lot more pc's than we did when at school. there is a cmputer suite of about 20 pc's, and one or two in each class room as well. dd1 is a very sought after pc partner in her class as she is good at using the pc. one boy said he loved working with dd1 as she wasnt scared to use the pc like most children are. she is 7 and in year two lol.

[climbingrosie]

Computers help enourmously with fine motor skill development so are very good to have in nurseries, and all state nurseries will have them as learning to use technology is part of the early learning goals for nursery children.

It is very important that children learn to use computers and this shouldn't be confused with juist watching a screan, computers are interactive, at least the programmes for choildren that schools use are. They are also great for children with learning difficulties and dyslexia- for example it is a way for young children to write even if they can't form the letters with a pencil themselves.

Don't nock it, computer literacy is essential for our children and if used correctly can help learning not hinder it. Moderation is the key, just like with everything else.

My DS is 4 and I've always let him use the pc at home, I don't see anything wrong with 20 minutes messing around on word or paint, exploring and experimenting. He also knows how to use google to find colouring pics to print off.

The benifits are far greater than just learning computer skills. Problem solving, fine motor skills, hand-eye co-ordination, learning about cause and effect...the list of benefits is potentially quite long!

That's my thoughts anyway, and I'm a qualified early years teacher.

[agnesnitt]

The nursery that my daughter goes to has a suite of five computers for the children to use, and an interactive whiteboard. The whiteboard is at a low level so the kids can do the 'touch' games on it. The day I took my daughter for her induction she disappeared as soon as we got in the door. She'd found the teacher PC and had got herself on the stool, pulled out the keyboard, arranged the mouse to her liking, grabbed a CD ROM and was looking for the button on the tower to open the CD ROM drawer.

Not that she's tech-savvy or anything >_<

I have no idea what sort of facilities the rest of the school has to offer, but the nursery is well equipped. Having said that though, most of the kids prefer the outside play area, which has had new benches installed, some games and the alphabet painted onto the tarmac, the climbing frame and the bikes. They're all a bit energetic

Agnes

[climbingrosie]

Also, if children know how to use computers properly, there is less chance of them damaging or breaking the pcs at home I think, or doing something wrong like deleting their parent's important work!

I never have to worry about leaving my work up incase DS touches the computer, he knows how to minimise documents if he wants to use it himself. This way I don't have to stress and worry so I'm glad he's computer literate.

[aintnomountainhighenough]

I can see the benefits of using a computer however personally I don't think we need them to teach children things like problem solving and hand-eye co-ordination etc. Working on a computer does not promote social interaction or activity. We should be getting children outside being active and playing - isn't this part of learning through play, not sitting either alone or in groups in front a computer.

[LRK]

I can also see the benefit of learing to use a computer, however all within reason...
In my sons state run nursery there is free-play between different 'stations'. I have observed the boys gravitating towards the computer. Though they do take it in turns, the time spent is not monitored particularly well. As a result my son tends to spend more time that I would like on the computer and very little time doing any drawing or other creative play.
I mentioned it to nursery, that he had brought about two pictures home in four months.
Was told he didn't want to draw, and that it was typical for boys!
More careful monitoring, more encouragement to boys in particular for drawing/painting and overall in all nurseries much much much more outdoor activities please.

[calpolicella]

My husband is a middle school teacher and was outraged to hear that a local preschool (not the one my daughter goes to) has been given 2 computers by a local company. He thinks 3-4 year olds are far too young to use computers and I tend to agree. They get more out of books, crayons, paints, cardboard, sand, water, trampolines, climbing frames and playdough than they could ever get from computers. But our daughter's preschool is collecting Tesco vouchers to help get a new computer so it's bound to happen eventually . Though hopefully by the time they collect enough vouchers she'll be doing her GCSEs...

[calpolicella]

My husband is a middle school teacher and was outraged to hear that a local preschool (not the one my daughter goes to) has been given 2 computers by a local company. He thinks 3-4 year olds are far too young to use computers and I tend to agree. They get more out of books, crayons, paints, cardboard, sand, water, trampolines, climbing frames and playdough than they could ever get from computers. But our daughter's preschool is collecting Tesco vouchers to help get a new computer so it's bound to happen eventually . Though hopefully by the time they collect enough vouchers she'll be doing her GCSEs...