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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that 3 is too young to be worrying about computer skills.

79 replies

psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 12:48

My 3 year dd just got her report from pre school.
It is really good and I am very pleased. However, the only negative comment was that she is not yet confident on the computer and cannot click and drag the mouse.

Whilst I understand that these days fairly good IT skills are a useful tool. Do they really need to be confident at 3. I wouldn't dream of letting her on the computer at home. I'm happy for her to play around at pre school but I really don't think computer skills are something that need to be commented on when they are 3.

I am a bit behind the times. I am worried now that we should be letting her spend time on the computer at home.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 29/03/2011 13:19

Agree Franca.

Using a mouse is not something that takes a lot of skill.

Even using Word to do do homework, or knowing how to google something (which my 6yo can do very well - "hot wheels cars" is his preference).

I allow mine to use the PC occasionally. And DD is saving for a netbook which I will allow her to buy if she can save enough to buy it.

Original poster
psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 13:21

fabbychic agree if you can afford it children over 11 need their own computer ds age 10 has a laptop.

I wouldn't normally mind a 5 year old spending a little time on one. My 5.10 year old is one of my foster children. I call him mine because he will be with me until he is an adult. He can't read at all and can only just write his name. We spend all our time working on these skills and I think the time he spends at school on the computer is enough.

OP posts:
TotemPole · 29/03/2011 13:21

You wouldn't leave them in front of the screen. But, at that age, sitting with them while they have a play for 10-15 mins now and then, isn't going to do any harm.

My daughter has good PC skills. She likes drawing in paint shop pro and playing around with other apps. She still does RL drawing with pens and paper.

TrinityIsABunnyMunchingRhino · 29/03/2011 13:22

its just a comment on something that she cant do

If you'd let her on your computer she would be able to thats all

she'll just take a little longer to get it at school

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:22

Oh yes, it is amazing how fast they are to pick up, it must be in the air or their genes.

BaggedandTagged · 29/03/2011 13:23

"IT is as much a part of education now as reading, writing and maths."

Disagree- IT is a means by which you read, write or do maths, amongst other things. You can easily do all three even if completely IT illiterate.

Computer skills are important but can be learned extremely quickly.

worraliberty · 29/03/2011 13:24

It's no use adults talking about when they mastered computers and expecting today's children to be the same.

It's not just about learning to 'click a mouse'. Technology is the fastest moving thing on this planet and by the time most children are in year two they are expected to be fairly computer literate. That standard is being raised all the time, so thinking a 3yr old shouldn't learn much about computers is like thinking they shouldn't learn much about reading, writing and numbers.

AlaskaHQ · 29/03/2011 13:26

I don't think computer skills are necessary for a preschooler, but my 4 year old does like playing on my laptop on www.poissonrouge.com which seems a lovely preschool site (in French originally, but you can click on the Union Jack for English).

MmeLindt · 29/03/2011 13:27

Worraliberty
What skills do you mean? Not being obtuse, but what do children need to know in Yr2 that they cannot be taught in an afternoon?

Saying that we live in Switzerland and there has been no talk about computers at all yet. DD will be 9yo next month

sparkle12mar08 · 29/03/2011 13:28

Fabby - no 7 year old should have to do their homework on a computer with no alternative, and I would be having serious words with the Head if this was the case in any school mine were in. Ridiculous situation.

TotemPole · 29/03/2011 13:28

At DD's school they use software to practise maths and english.

It is an important skill.

LessNarkyPuffin · 29/03/2011 13:28

That's what I linked to Alaska! It's brilliant.

BaggedandTagged · 29/03/2011 13:28

But what's the point in being able to use a computer if you cant read or write?

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:32

Worralliberty, to be honest, I really don't think that a 3 yr old should learn IT skills AND writing and reading ones. We are talking of 3 yr old. Some of them aren't even able to dress themselves at that age! They are tiny.

LessNarkyPuffin · 29/03/2011 13:32

What's the point in playing with toys generally? Poissonrouge has games for readers and non readers.

Sirzy · 29/03/2011 13:32

But a computer can help with reading skills if used properly.

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:35

Playing with toys helps them:
making sense of life
their fine and gross motor skills
relate to each other
express their emotions
etc etc etc

TotemPole · 29/03/2011 13:35

But what's the point in being able to use a computer if you cant read or write?

It doesn't mean give up the guided reading at school, or reading at home. It's just a different/extra way.

duchesse · 29/03/2011 13:38

I agree entirely, OP. Children of this sort of age need to be doing real things, developing their motor and thinking skills and learning to understand the world through their senses. Not turning into little corporate drones with wizened limbs.

KickArseQueen · 29/03/2011 13:38

A computer is a tool / toy, it is not " good" or "bad" it is how it is used.

In the UK we seem to have a real shock attitude towards young children being able or being allowed to use computers, watch TV, eat Biscuit's or Macdonalds.

If they are using computers as part of their play that is fine and positive. Its about balance. As others have said it doesn't need to be all playing in the sand pit and kicking balls, it can be computer skills too. The younger they have an understanding of computers the better in my book, computers are a normal part of life. Why stop a child from using one appropriatley for their age? They frequently use them in schools ( from age 4!)- why make school more difficult for them if you don't have to?

Almost everything in life is ok in moderation and learning moderation from a young age has been said to be important in preventing children from becoming adults who binge.

Who knows!! If the technology had been around / we had been allowed to use the PC when we were little kids maybe we wouldn't be so addicted to MN????? Wink

LaWeasel · 29/03/2011 13:40

Yes, they're mad. There is nothing wrong with computers, but:

It is really, really easy to learn how to use a computer that's the POINT of them, so it is no worry at all that she isn't quite there yet at 3.

And I say that as someone who was born and raised on computers and with the internet.

duchesse · 29/03/2011 13:41

re the fast moving aspect- that is precisely WHY they need skills other than IT skills. They need to develop values, a personal ethic and philosophy on life BEFORE they are swamped by information and means of communication they can ill handle psychologically. You cannot even use Google effectively (the most user-friendly search engine on the planet) unless you have the intelligence, literacy skills and common knowledge to know what keywords to search for to get the result you want.

Else you risk rearing a generation of children who google "Wot can I do 2 get an A in fisics?" And plenty do already.

Original poster
psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 13:43

But that's another thing kickarse if she starts using the computer at home as well. When will I ever get on MN.

I might have to do some housework Grin

OP posts:
Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:43

Kickarse, we are addicted to Mumsnet because we use it to communicate and be overopinionated, this is why we are addicted to it Grin

Duchesse, totally agree.

duchesse · 29/03/2011 13:44

Another one chipping in here to say that although I had home computers from the age of 11 (ZX81), my husband's first experience of computers was at the of 20 in the maths department at university, we both now largely do computer-based work. It has not hindered my husband in any way not to have any contact with them until that age, nor did it make me any better off except in the very early years of the internet when I was an early adopter and was online years before many friends (1994).