Does your toddler play on the computer/internet?

[mezzer]

My dd is 20mo and I don't let her play on the computer at all.

Should I? Do you?

[sunshineonarainyday]

when my DD was that age (she's now 3) she LOVED going on the Cbeebies website, obviously with my help, and we'd play the games and things. Now she's older she still likes to play on the Cbeebies website with me but now she has a go with the mouse.

[Hulababy]

Yes DD has always like a go on the computer.

kneebouncers.com is a nice way to introduce computers - very simple interactive site for little ones.

[xXxamyxXx]

have to agree my ds is 2 and really like the cbeebies website needs my help with it of course doesnt dont do it too often just if he jumps on my lap or dhs while we are on laptop

[policywonk]

DS1 was on the 'puter constantly from the age of about 18mos, and is now very nimble with the mouse and cursor. DS2 (2) doesn't seem at all inclined. I don't think it's a bad thing for children to do in itself, so long as they're also running around pretending to be helicopters and whatnot on a regular basis.

[Moomin]

Dd2 is 23m and likes watching dd1 on the CBeebies website. SHe hasn't mastered any of the keys or mouse yet but joins in by pointing at the right animal or character etc. Dd1 started paying independently on the puter from about aged 3 but on my lap before that.

[chopster]

if you go on the fisherprice website they have some great games for very young toddlers or babies, where they only have to swat at the keyboard to make things happen. Mine loved that from about 8 months or so, now they like cbeebies. Don't think you necessarily should be, but its a bit of fun.

[chopster]

here

[mezzer]

Ok, so, I'm being over-cautious... We talk to my mum/friends via internet sometimes and she always wants to bang away at the keyboard, etc. I'm afraid that I'd a) open up a whole new can of worms and b) if TV is not recommended for under 2s, does the same advice stand for internet type stuff.

Maybe I should just relax and let her have a go...

(side note - I'm one of those anti-TV people, not 100% as I'm ok if she watches occassionally / when visiting other kids, etc but we don't own one and not planning on buying one anytime soon)

[policywonk]

I think it's a bit different from telly, in that telly can only ever be a passive experience, whereas computers demand much more input from the user. Certainly, the games on CBeebies are very educationally-inclined.

[Moomin]

DEfinitely agree about CBeebies - your dd will also be using computers very early on at school as well so it would be good for her if she has some experience of basic mouse skills, able to manipulate things and move them about, etc.

Dd1 has just started Year 1 and they did ICT every week in Reception.

[Pruners]

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[Pruners]

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[chankins]

I probably wouldn't at that age but only because I'm overly terrfied of them wrecking it! Let mine aged 3 and a half and 5 yrs on it, about an hour a day usually. They love Cbeebies and club penguin and barbie.com. They can both control mouse and click on what they want etc. I don't mind them on it because its more interactive and educational than tv, where they just slob out and stare at the screen! But I make sure they have had a good play, run about etc too, because I'd worry about them getting addicted and wanting to do nothing else!

[policywonk]

ROFL at mini-Pruners. If he grows up to be a foot fetishist, at least you'll know why.

[francagoestohollywood]

absolutely not.

[arfishy]

Yes, I let DD play on my computer from about 3. She's very good at it now (4) and can choose her own bookmarks, navigate around (approved) sites, enter her name and use the browser correctly.

She likes cbeebies, nickjr.com, uptoten.com, poissonrouge.com and a couple of home ed sites.

[Rhubarb]

No. They have pcs at school and nursery and can use them. At home they'll get out and do some exercise. I don't want to encourage them to sit in front of the screen all day. No matter what skills it teaches them, it's still encouraging them to just sit there staring at a screen.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

In the preschool room at nursery ds1 2.9 can play on the computer they have there for playing on.
We are both self employed and have all work stuff on the pc at home so knowing our luck if DS got on it he woul blurt everything off for both our businesses! So we don't let him on it yet but have considered that if we upgrade our pc at some point they can have the old one to play with.

[Trinityrhino]

oh no I never let my children on the 'puter

oh shit rhubarb is here and she knoooows lol


dd2 who is 2 isn't allowed as she would break it but dd1 who is 7 would be on it all day if allowed which she isn't but probab;y is on it longer than she should sometimes

[roisin]

I agree with Rhubarb, mine didn't go on the PC as toddlers, and I think it's unnecessary.

I actually wanted them to master the basics of 'traditional' reading and writing (which is fairly difficult and boring compared to the whizzes lights and bangs of electronic displays) before getting into it. (Ds1 had limited PC access from age 5, ds2 from 4 - plus occasional time at playgroup/nursery/school).

They are now 8 and 10 and have been in no way disadvantaged by their slow start on PCs.

[Rhubarb]

Never seen yours on the pc TR!

[Hattie05]

My dd has always had a 'go' on cbeebies but i've always felt a bit reluctant at letting her spend too long on it. But now she has just started in reception and comes home telling me they have used the computer each day i'm quite glad i did give her the chance to learn mouse skills etc!

The other day she went on our home pc onto paint programme which we do doodle on together usually, but she started saying "oh we have this at school and this does this, this does this...." these were all controls i had never explored before and didn't know they existed!

[Flibbertyjibbet]

The night garden website is far too good for toddlers!

[Trinityrhino]

oh no you probably haven't seen dd1 on it cause she is usually at schoo, oh pooop I could have got away with it lol

[NotAnOtter]

god no
what for?
mouse skills? pah