Personally, I think the sooner the better but only for a short time each session. Dorling Kindersley do software which is suitable from 18 months but you need to do most of the work for the child because they can't really control a mouse at that age. My DS was quite happy to play on DK's Learning Ladder at 3 1/2 and it was quite a useful passtime when he broke his collar bone and couldn't go to nursery. Some of the younger children's software comes with special keyboards/activity boards and an adapted mouse which are ok but they don't really teach the real use of the computer. DD's playgroup has a computer but she hasn't really grasped how to use the mouse and she is just 3.

I have no answer the question, my instinct is 3 ish at least, but thats because I worry about the possible effects on their eyesight. Does anyone know if its a problem or not??

Dd used Jump Ahead Baby from about 18 months and loved it. She's now got Jump Ahead Toddler 2, which she still loves but isn't as good. I work on a computer a lot and I have b**y awful eyesight so that's something worth thinking about...

Ds has really enjoyed playing the games on CBeebies and Bob the Builder etc websites since 3 and a bit, sitting on my lap, and loves the Thunderbirds site too. That practice has given him fantastic mouse control. We only do a few minutes a week, but it's a real treat for him. I have friends who say they won't let their child use the PC at all until they can read and write conventionally, which I think is rather extreme! Everything in moderation. Personally I prefer playing these sorts of games with him and also using the Paintbox option for drawing. I don't think I'd use any "educational software" for a while but see no harm in it. Dp works at home on the PC (ds probably thinks his work is playing on the Thunderbird site!) so we have anti-glare but I don't know if there are eyesight issues for children. As long as it's no more than a few minutes each day I wouldn't have thought there'd be a problem. I think anything that makes them think computers are fun must be positive.

We have had a computer for over 2 years now, and my son who is 3 1/2 has been using it for about a year. He loves the cbeebies site, plus has a few games that we installed .He's pretty good on the mouse, can aim and click it where he needs . He naturally gets bored after about 20 minutes, so I haven't ever worried about leaving him on too long.

Like Lou33, my ds started 'using' the computer (only with us helping him of course) from about 2.5. He loves the games on cbeebies and NickJr and is beginning to master the mouse. He also 'caught' me playing pinball (free trial game we got) and now wants to play that with me! Only word of warning - once they realise its a 'fun toy' you'll keep getting pestered if they see you on Mumsnet!

Can someone give me the url for this much acclaimed Thunderbirds site???

Motherofone - It's
www.thunderbirdsonline.com/site/

I'm going to go completely the opposite way to PamT and say as late as possible!

We have introduced DD to the computer - it would be hard not to since both DH's and my lives depend heavily on it. We first got her some software a couple of years ago when we were in NZ and she loved a DK Learning Ladders package. Once we came back she lost interest.

Last year we downloaded some freeware/shareware - a pairs game and a Go Fish (bit like Happy Families) game which she plays occasionally. Played more back then but lost interest now.

I got her Jump Ahead earlier this year and she raced through it. She apparently does pretty well on the computer at school but shows little interest in it at home except to email her dad when he's away.

I suppose she's learned it's just another thing we have in the house - she's no more obseesed with it than the phone, the handmixer or the TV!

Wasn't there some controversy a few years ago about a different part of the brain being used when children use a computer? Can't rememeber the specifics but I seem to recall that a child's ability to learn was altered if they used a computer a significant amout - don't know what would be significant but it was not deemed a Good Thing to use a pc before 7.

I really dont have an age in mind. If I had to pick Id say start at preschool age (maybe 3). I think educational games are wonderful for a child to be involved in. You can never learn too much. My son has glasses and just had a eye checkup and his eyes have gotten worst more then the normal amount this past year. The eye doc said too many hours a day on the computer is not good on the eyes. Not that you will go blind but that it causes really bad eye strains and sometimes blurred vision, (which my 12 yr old is dealing with now) and other problems. My son has used the computer for many hours a day nonstop in the past. Especially in the summer. I was told to only allow a few hours a day split up since he is over 12 yrs. If a child uses a computer a lot I would recommend eye checkups regularly. Even if not Id still recommend them .Eyes can have problems and you may not even know it. My sons teacher pointed it out while he was in school and could not focus on the chalkboard. All this started when he started using the computer way too much. (my fault of course)

coincedentally, took both my dds to opticians yesterday (6 & 4) & optician said worst thing at this age was computer use - by that she also meant nintendo etc, as they sit far too close to screen & can cause real eye problems. Given that I'm pretty short sighted, I will make sure niether of mine use it much. At the moment its for a max of 1 hour PER WEEK.
BTW as far as keeping up with modern technology, I first used a computer at 20, and now earn my living programming them, so I don't think my kids are going to be seriously disadvantaged by not using one every day.

excuse the typos!

My DD is computer friendly at 3.5yrs. R