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Original poster

toddler loves computer ...any suggestions ...?

13 replies

winnie · 21/01/2002 13:06

Our toddler (doesn't time fly when your having fun?)... loves our computer and laptop (probably a result of my breastfeeding whilst on line from early days!). In an attempt to save our computers from being destroyed we gave him our daughters very old Vtech. He loves it as he can carry it around and make noise with it but as it is aimed at a six year old that is all he can do with it. We would like to get him something he can use and that will last at least a little while. Any recommendations?

OP posts:
Wendy1 · 22/01/2002 15:52

Winnie, I'd check out the Vtech and IQBuilders range and pick one that's suited to your toddlers age. I bought my 4 year old a Vtech Wizz-Kids computer for Christmas - there are quite a few games there that are too old for him at the moment but plenty he can do and he enjoys playing with it. I couldn't find a suitable equivalent for his 2 year old sister and so bought her the Bob the Builder telelphone (about £17) which has quite a few different games on it, it's been a huge hit with both of them.

Enid · 22/01/2002 17:24

Try buying a toddler computer program such as 'Jump Ahead Baby'. Dd loves hers - you can bash the keyboard and make things happen on the screen. I actually have an old keyboard that I plug in for her to use, rather than her ruining my pristine one! You never know, you might even teach him some early computer skills!

robinw · 22/01/2002 19:45

message withdrawn

Batters · 22/01/2002 21:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Coxy · 22/01/2002 21:48

Hi Winnie. We bought our then 3 year old an IQ Builders Mouse Play computer. It teaches them to use a mouse but has an alphabet keyboard with loads of things like addition/subtraction/counting/alphabet etc. etc. Whilst he tried to use it when 3, it's now coming into its own as he's nearly 5 and loves it. When he gets five consecutive answers right it says "excellent" which he thinks is marvellous. From memory in the Argos catalogue it has been updated but its' certainly been useful in our house. His 3 year old brother also likes to use it to. It's also very portable and has been dropped around a bit with no side effects. Hope this helps.

Original poster
winnie · 22/01/2002 21:53

Thanks guys, I will print this off. I was beginning to think that maybe he is just too young an dmaybe we shouldn't be thinking of buying such things yet (he's 16 months). However, we just know he will love such a thing and I something that he can use for a while would be perfect.

OP posts:
mollipops · 23/01/2002 07:35

I have seen a toddler/preschool keyboard somewhere with large colourful simplified keys...maybe you can get them online or at a computer store. We also have a tiny mouse, which is perfect for little hands (a normal mouse is too hard to control)...I think you can get them online, it's called an Itty Bitty Mouse. My kids are older (2.5 and 5) but I don't think you can start too early these days, as long as you limit "screen time" to half an hour or so a day!

duck · 27/01/2002 14:09

Fisher Price apparently do a clip on keyboard but I haven't seen it in the shops- just on their website.

Dixie · 28/01/2002 09:27

The fisher price one is in the Argos Catalogue. ELC also do their own version but i played about with it in the shop and found it not very good...but then thats only my opinion....also there is some computer software for toddlers I've seen in the shops. There is a website that specialises in it actually but I can't remember it just now...I'll come back to you...think it www.brainbox.com or something.

Dixie · 28/01/2002 09:28

I waffled a bit there..I was talking about strap on keyboards..the fisher price one has it's own small mouse too.

Hilary · 29/01/2002 22:15

Winnie, how old is he? My eldest is just three and loves to sit at my computer and do things on the Bob the Builder website or the Postman Pat one etc. We also have a couple of DVD's for him. He is really very sensible on it and can be trusted to be on his own doing it. He uses the mouse brilliantly. One of his other favourite things is to have an open Word document and to type big letters and numbers on it. He calls it doing his work just like Mummy and Daddy do. So, we are saving our money and just letting him play on ours!

JenniW · 04/02/2003 00:08

Does anyone have any experience of the Fisher Price computer learning system? It looks like it might be fun but I'd be interested to hear whether it lives up to expectations. Thanks.

grommit · 04/02/2003 09:21

My dd has been using my laptop since she was about 2 - she just used the pad mouse and keyboard. I only bought her one game - Toddler Reader Rabbit - it is very good - she loves it. It has very simple letter games, match the animal baby to the parent (a favourite), colouring in and much more. I would recommend this as a first step. She also likes cbeebies and Nick Junior websites. In saying that we have to limit use to about 10 mins every other day otherwise she would be on it all the time - very addictive

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