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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

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

77 replies

JoshandJamie · 12/04/2007 14:49

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.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Enid · 02/05/2007 10:57

yes you are right ignorant a bit harsh

short-sighted a much better word

franca70 · 02/05/2007 11:10

I'm def quite ignorant about computers, and probably can't see the "world" that they open up, apart from mntting and emailing my friends in Italy. I can't see the need for pre-schoolers to learn how to use a pc or indeed learn the alphabet (unless they want to). therefore, personally, the fact that a nursery has or doesn't have this facility isn't in my list of things to look for when choosing one.

Enid · 02/05/2007 11:11

dont your kids use yours though?

Gobbledigook · 02/05/2007 11:11

Yes, ds2's school nursery has a computer and I know they keep a track of who is able to use it and who isn't. It's definitely part of their learning.

franca70 · 02/05/2007 11:21

No. The pc is upstairs... . ds started reception and they have a rota to the computer. It doesn't seem to be the highlight of his day at school though. dd is three, and tends to be more occupied with other stuff. Not that I'd veto to use it if they asked. When they show more enthusiasm the'll be welcome to it.

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 11:21

franca - have you seen \link{http://www.poissonrouge.com/\poissonrouge?)

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 11:21

\link{http://www.poissonrouge.com/\poissonrouge?)\

DOH!

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 11:22

\link{http://www.poissonrouge.com/\poissonrouge?\

FFS!!!

franca70 · 02/05/2007 11:23

see, computers are b***

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 11:23

poissonrouge?

BOOLOXINGFFINGBUGGERINGLINKSIREFUSETOPREVIEWWHYAMIFINGINUPINATHREADABOUTCOMPUTERS!

Dimpled · 02/05/2007 11:23

..and relax.

franca70 · 02/05/2007 11:30

That's sweet. But I really can't understand why I should rush? if you mastered the computer by age 5, what the hell you are going to do when you are 9?

DominiConnor · 02/05/2007 11:41

I'm deeply sceptical about ICT in schools, not least because it doesn't seem to have anything much to do with ICT.
Knowing that for some programme, "this menu does X" is of zero utility.
There is some useful s/w for learning, especially those things which have quite a bit of "rote" to them, like times tables, spelling etc.
But far too much emphasis is put on "using the computer as a tool". If I wanted my kid to learn "tools", I'd buy him a hammer.
There is almost no detectable understanding of how they work imparted to kids.

One thing that is nearly completely missing is programming, ie imposing your will upon the system. The thought processes in programming are useful in general, even if you don't become an IT specialist which is of course the vast majority of kids.

Personally I'd stop teaching ICT altogether, and use the money for something useful. Indeed it's not easy to prove that ICT is taught at all.
I've seen the textbooks used at schools and what's sad is that if you compare the ones used for young kids and older ones, they seem to be saying exactly the same thing, but in longer words. IE there is no expectation that a 16 year old will know more than a 6 year old, except vocabularly learned in English lessons.
If you pick up an A level text, an averagely educated person of any profession can understand it.
That alone shows how bogus the whole subject is. Try picking up a maths, physics, biology or chemistry A level book see how far you get, unless you have that background.

When IT was a new subject, it was reasonable that a kid (like me) knew far more than their teachers. But that was 1974. But it's still true.

Marina · 02/05/2007 11:47

Dd's nursery school have a computer but use it only for "art". I'm happy with this - they are spending more time growing wonky cress and painting their fingers blue, which suits me.
Ds had barely been on a computer when he joined Reception and loves it now (Yr 3). He is more than competent, so there's plenty of time for your dcs joshandjamie

fannyannie · 02/05/2007 11:49

DS1's pre-school - where DS2 will start in september - has computers which are used as part of their learning. Never bothered me in the slightest - and yes both DS1 and DS2 used the computer at home for playing before starting school.

harpsichordcarrier · 02/05/2007 13:49

er but the thing is dd1 likes playing on the computer
and she can type her name
it's really no big deal. it's a like a balanced diet - bit of this, bit of that.

MrsWeasley · 02/05/2007 13:51

Our pre-school does......

but I've only even seen it used by the children during an inspection

MadamePlatypus · 02/05/2007 18:12

I would like DS to be able to know how computers work and have programming skills, but I am not too bothered about whether the school teaches him to use a mouse or not - I never did this in pre-school and I am pretty proficient at it!

I suppose it would be useful for him to be able to type if the qwerty keyboard has a future, but I would be a bit sceptical if this were dressed up as 'computing'.

I have no problem with him playing on a computer - its just something else that people have fun doing. However, I feel that as a pre-schooler he gets more out of sticking loo rolls together than working on a computer.

I agree with DC that it is more important to study the root subjects - physics and maths than IT, but I think that IT is a great way of showing how these subjects can be applied, so I do think it has a place further up the school curriculum.

MadamePlatypus · 02/05/2007 18:29

As far as I can see (and I am not as this stage yet with my children), most secondary school children seem to be fairly proficient at using myspace etc. but as far as I know, there was no pre-school computing in the mid 90's. Generations of children have also managed to acquire find motor skills and logic skills without computers.

I would be very hypocritical not to let my children use a computer, but still can't see the NEED for them at pre-schools.

Pitchounette · 02/05/2007 21:18

Message withdrawn

BexieID · 02/05/2007 22:40

Tom is almost 13 months and loves bashing the keyboard. He'll be computer literate before pre-school no doubt as DF and I are always using the PC. We met on-line so it's an integral part of our lives. But I wouldn't let Tom use it on his own.

pickledpear · 02/05/2007 22:46

we fundraised to get a computer then before we went to buy them two different parents gave us their old ones the kids love having ago on it they play counting games and colour games with the help of Dora or Postman Pat pretty harmless stuff and no-one to tell them they not to touch etc like at home nothing can be lost on it...
they are on there 20mins max each and a teacher there all the time helping or watching to give advice or help
we have been given by county hall some government money was used a digital camera for the children to use and a movie maker.. they are 2-4yrs old what do they expect them to do with these products. i did suggest raffleing them off to buy a new sandpit

bekplus3 · 04/05/2007 10:39

My 6 year old uses the PC alot, and is allowed on certain sites that I have pre-checked, he isn't allowed to use any search engine without me (and wouldn't know how to anyway). They have PC's in an IT suite at school, and a PC in each classroom. My 3 year old is at pre-school and as far as I know they don't have a PC there, but she is allowed to use the PC at home, using the Cbeebies site only, she is left alone but for short periods of time. I encourge my children to get used to the keyboard and mouse, and she has got good control now which I think will be important for her for later on when she is in school.

Bamzooki · 04/05/2007 18:31

The nursery ds goes to has a pc which they get selected access to, though to be honest I don't think it would teach him anything he doesn't already know from home, and while there he much prefers all the physical outdoor stuff judging by the sweaty state he is always in by the end.
He picks up skills on the pc very quickly and uses the cbeebies site, but I was rather staggered to watch him sit at the pc one day and open internet explorer and start typing 'www.c ' before he got a bit lost and wasn't sure what to do next. Didn't really expect a 3 yr old to be able to do that from watching me! Needless to say I am careful to supervise him on the pc in case he starts raiding my ebay account!
DD 9yr - her school (local primary) has an ict suite which boasts enough laptops for one per child during their sessions. They do a lot of art stuff, but also document work and formatting etc at which she now far outstrips me in capability! I think the very active PFA have helped with funding these laptops as I would be amazed if normal school budgets would stretch that far.

contentiouscat · 04/05/2007 18:36

I have no problem with DS spending limited fun educational time on a computer either at home or pre-school.

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