to think that preschoolers shouldn't be using the internet?

[oodlesofdoodles]

My DS's pre-school want to get online so that they can, for example, watch films of exploding volcanoes on youtube instead of looking at pictures in a book.

As I understand it preschoolers are learning motor, language and social skills from real life activity and interaction. They don't learn that from watching films/playing computer games.

The other parents at preschool seem to be fine about the children spending (supervised) time on the internet. I feel time on the computer detracts from time baking or crafting or singing or running around etc.

What do others think?

Using the mouse - that'll cover hand/eye co-ordination.

Language and social skills will be covered while they are working with their partners on the computer, and while they are talking about the images they have seen. I think you will find that the language children use is generally enriched by the chance to watch and talk about real events - rather than simply observe a static image in a book.

I hope you will get some lovely, exciting and explosive volcano pictures home soon - preferably with lots of brightly coloured strips of tissue paper stuck all over it.

I think that you ought to let your wee man have a shot at ceebeebies or whatever and assess for yourself how quickly he picks up things like mouse control

Also I do feel that you are ever so slightly not listening wrt IT being part of the early years curriculum nowadays

[said gently]

Madam, pre-school is also about learning how to access information - children do have to be taught how to read a book (and I don't mean reading the words, I mean how to hold a book and progress through the pictures from start to end - even to understand that there might be a story hidden between the covers), in just the same way that they need to be taught to access information via other technologies.

Just because it's on the curriculum doesn't mean computers are good for pre-schoolers though.

I was about 20 when I first used a mouse and have no problem with it. I expect with smartphones the mouse may be redundant soon anyway.

I don't think a few minutes on the computer will do irrevocable damage, I'm just sad that the emphasis on nursery seems to be shifting away from practical activities towards the passive learning of facts before they're ready.

But it isn't a passive activity - as horton said, it is a sociable, learning experience. Much like decorating biscuits with runny icing and sprinkles, finger-painting or any one of the other activities that happen at nursery.

YABU

using computer is part of the curriculem for young children.

I work in a kinder garten class (3 - 4 year olds) and the children have 2 computers (between 20 children) that they have access too.

They learn alot and play appropriate games. Sometimes just paint (and they then typr their name) sometimes games on CD and sometimes games on the internet chosen by us members of staff (always liked to our letter of the week)

it is also useful when (for example) at Christmas time we were trying to get the children to learn a song that us class teachers didnt no, (but the music teacher did) and the CD had been misplaced

we sat as a class round the computer listening to it, we googled the song and it came up, so us teachers and the children could learn the song!

I think the mouse stuff has actually brought my rather cack-handed DD's fine motor skills on a treat. And stuff like the phonics/writing app that I have on my phone is really helping her learn to form letters correctly. And she likes it and begs to play writing. What's not to like?

I'd rather she was playing on the PC, which is after all interactive and requires thought and decision-making and actual motor and cognitive skills, when I am too busy to play with her because I'm cooking her dinner or washing the floor rather than watching TV or moping round behind me going 'when will you be finished, Mummy?'

YABU.

Sitting in front of a screen for hours is not great, but looking up the odd age-appropriate resource is fine.

DS (3) and I were talking aboout animals that jump the other day, so I found a video of kangaroos on YouTube. I could have shown him a picture of a kangaroo but it's not the same as seeing it move. DS spent the next half hour pretending to be a kangaroo and jumping all over the house!

my 4yr old is a wizz with the laptop,ds,xbox,ipod

there is no hope for the poor child

IMO there's nothing wrong with passive activities. No-one, not even pre-schools can be active all the time. If children are in nursery all day (like my DD is 3 days a week) they get tired, so half an hour in front of a DVD or the computer I don't mind at all. I don't expect her to be playing or doing activities for 8 hours solid.

After a stressful day at work I like to relax by playing on the laptop, watching TV, reading - anything that helps me 'switch off' for a bit. Pre-schoolers I imagine need the same 'down time' every so often throughout the day to help them recharge for a bit. Most can't read so TV / computers are useful. Obviously overuse of these things will be harmful (as overindulgence in pretty much anything is...)

I think you're being a bit hysterical tbh. They are talking about using the computer as a resouce, not instead of, but in addition to all of the other things that you do want him to be doing. It is another way to engage children, to capture their interest and to help them to learn. Children love to use the computer, they have the world at their fingertips. How wonderful to be talking about Chinese New Year, and then to be able to log on and watch traditional Chinese dances for example.
They are not talking about sitting him infront of World of Warcraft for three hours, they are talking about using it occasionally, as a way of getting kids engaged in their learning, just as baking/crafting/singing does. It wont rot his brain, maybe he wont be that interested, or maybe it will open up lots of new interests for him. Why don't you wait and see how your ds likes it before you assume that anything on a screen is Bad?

Using your imagination is an activity though isn't it. It takes some effort and concentration to sit and imagine things for hours.
Whereas watching TV / a video on the computer is truly passive as you are literally "spoon-fed". And I'm not saying TV or computers are the only "passivities" you can engage in. There's also reading, being read to, watching the world go by, daydreaming even napping....And I don't value one above another really, but I do think they are important in helping you relax and switch off.

I was sat here wondering what EYFS and because it was straight after the alcohol comparison I thought it was a variation of Are you fucking serious?

Haha!