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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Original poster

psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 13:45

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

PMSL

OP posts:

TotemPole · 29/03/2011 13:49

"Wot can I do 2 get an A in fisics?"

I blame that on mobile phones and texting.

duchesse, I'll see your ZX81 and raise you a Spectrum.

TotemPole · 29/03/2011 13:50

I might have to do some housework

There's no need to swear.

mummytime · 29/03/2011 13:50

IT is part of the early years curriculum, so the nursery would be at fault if they didn't mention it. At that age they spend a little while clicking on pictures of colours, or pairing animals. Use of a mouse does help some motor skills, its finer than ball throwing, but not as tricky as a pencil.

A computer is not "handy" for 11+, but pretty close to essential. If they don't have access to one then it really hinders homework. Lots of my kids homework is set on line, or needs online research. It also takes a lot less time to answer one quick question about OX Bow lakes online than wading through books.

If you have more than one over 11, then more than one computer helps a lot.

duchesse · 29/03/2011 13:52

Pfft, had one of those next. All you could do with the buggers (after spending hours wiring them up to the telly) was write little programmes in Basic that went like this

line 1: WRITE "Hello"
line 2: GOTO line 1

Or something like that, and then watch the screen fill with Hellos. If I'd had the nous I could have used a rude word at least.

LaWeasel · 29/03/2011 13:54

Apparently I spent my early years watching my mum programme her BBC micro to do stuff like that duchesse

And I had a windows 3.0 at 5.

[cough]

But I still don't think it's necessary on the EYFS curriculum. I have moaned about this before. Primary school - fine. Pre-school? Almost completely pointless.

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:58

Lol lol lol Duchesse.
I remember that when I was about 12 I was sent, with 2 other friends, to a class to learn some IT skills (circa 1983). The highlight of the whole thing was playing that snake game, you know the one where the snake got longer and longer?
I remember it was tedious.

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 13:59

My friend, who is a teacher at middle school, has banned her students to bring in projects researched online

Original poster

psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 14:01

Right little update.

Whilst MNetting dd was sitting on my knee and trying to mess around with the keyboard.
OK thinks I what the hell. I open a blank sheet in word and let her bash the keyboard. She loves it.
So I think "I will just hang some washing out".
I'm in the garden when dd staggers out to inform me that she has done a wee and a poo in her pants.
She hasn't had an accident for months. She was so engrossed in the bloody computer that she did a poo

I rest my case. That ladies is why 3 year olds should not be on the computer.

OP posts:

Francagoestohollywood · 29/03/2011 14:04

My point entirely.

Dancergirl · 29/03/2011 14:04

I'm slightly shocked about this school's attitude!

My youngest dd is 4, starting reception in September. She can't use a mouse and I give a flying fig about it.

Completely agree with you - Chris Woodhead writes a column in the Sunday Times and a few weeks ago he pointed out some research which shows computers before the age of NINE are at best unnecesary and at worst potentially harmful to a child's natural development.

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 14:08

I think learning to use a computer/technology is as important as learning to read and be numerate.

Nurseries just comment on what to look out for developmentally, it isn't meant to be a criticism or a comment as to what they should be doing by now, but aren't. My daughter struggled with tripod grip until she started school so it was good to know this so we could help her at home. The mouse thing seemed to 'click' (pardon the pun) at about three and a half.

I take issue with the whole EYFS thing anyway as I think nurseries should be about play rather than assessment of childrens' abilities, but I certainly think it's a good idea to get them using a computer at three, just as it's a good idea to get them 'reading' books. It's another way to play and learn.

duchesse · 29/03/2011 14:12

MrsH75, I couldn't disagree more with you. NOTHING educational is more important than being able to read. Even my MIL who is a secondary school maths teacher of the highest calibre, says that the most important thing in maths is knowing how to read.

LessNarkyPuffin · 29/03/2011 14:29

Psiloveyou that is indeed a compelling argument Not that I've ever nearly wet my pants whilst MNing because I don't want to stop to go to the loo. Oh no.

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 14:34

I agree that to a degree, learning to read has to come first before you are able to do most other things.

But I think kids will come across as many difficulties in their future lives if they aren't comfortable with technology.

As I said, I'd prefer kids not to be assessed at all at nursery and just be able to play and enjoy it. But I'd expect to see a computer in a pre-school in 2011 as much as I'd expect to see books and toys.

TrinityIsABunnyMunchingRhino · 29/03/2011 14:52

is she really just banging on it?

surely at three she can see what you have been doing and try to copy

gecko and the other before her could use the mouse and find the keys to do their name at 3 and a few months

I hope you dont really think that she soiled herself because of the computer cause then you will never let her on it

TrinityIsABunnyMunchingRhino · 29/03/2011 14:54

totem pole, I had a spectrum but before that I had a dragon 32 and then a dragon 64

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 14:57

I had an Amstrad CPC464 which I used to type out programs for games out of a thick book for hours on aged 8. But seem unaffected.

bleep bleep bleep

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 29/03/2011 15:01

a computer - or to be more precise the BBC Bitesize website, was a god send when my DS2 was in nursery. He desperately wanted to do maths stuff (don't ask - nothing to do with me) - and the simple, but useful games on the KS1 were perfect for him.

Have just recommended the same website for my BF's DD who is in YR2 and struggling a little, and is quite a reluctant learner, she's really taken to the KS1 Bitesize website so it's helping with her learning.

DS3 (3 - 4 in May) can switch on the PC, open Firefox, find Cbeebies in the bookmarks and find his away around the games .

And from Yr3 in the Juniors they have access to the Iamlearning website, which is great for learning too (And even better for DS1 as you can earn time to play the games longer, therefore having a chance of getting the high score table - however yu only get more time if you get the questins right so you have to concentrate).

Dancergirl · 29/03/2011 15:01

But I think kids will come across as many difficulties in their future lives if they aren't comfortable with technology.

ALL children this generation onwards grow up being comfortable with technology, it's taken as read. But that's why I see no rush to get these skills. Far, far more important things for 3 year olds to be doing than using a mouse.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 29/03/2011 15:02

we had a Beeb - I used to write simple little programmes as well , and copy programmes for more "complicated" games out of books as well.

Original poster

psiloveyou · 29/03/2011 15:51

trinity no not really banging. She was just pressing random keys. She did point out the first letter of her name then asked what mummy, daddy ect began with so she could write those.

She's not going back on it until she is at least 28 at able to control her bowell movements.

OP posts:

MrsH75 · 29/03/2011 15:57

Far, far more important things for 3 year olds to be doing than using a mouse.

As important but not more important I'd say.

I find it odd that a lot of people seem to frown on computer use at a young age, as if it had as much value as introducing them to McDonalds.

I also find it odd that people cite the opinions of Chris Woodhead, a propos of anything TBH. I wouldn't ask his opinion about education any more than I'd ask the Pope how to use a condom.

helendigestives · 29/03/2011 16:11

I used to play on the computer at primary school, adjust the settings, and then teach the adults how to use it. I can now touch-type at 70wpm, which has been ridiculously useful all throughout my time in school, college and university.

My niece - aged 18months - makes a desperate grab for every nearby mobile phone since everyone she sees is always texting/checking emails/etc. I think it's a normal part of life now and kids should be confident in using computers.

It reminds me of of a 2yo using an iPad.

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 29/03/2011 16:21

why in god's bloody name would you let a 2yr old loose on an Ipad Now that is unnecessary

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