Children and Computers

I remember how so many people thought that TV was a terrible thing when it first came out. Some parents, even now, will not allow a TV in their home because of its bad influence on their children, yet it has some very good programs for children and it can bring the other side of the world to us in seconds. We just need to push the off button at certain times. Just as a car can take one to a bad place or a good place, other inventions can be both a bad influence and a good influence. It is up to parents, teachers, and other adults to teach children the proper use of the inventions available to us. It seems that technology is developing so fast that it is almost impossible to teach children properly about the use of the many technological products available to us, but we must make a definite effort to do so.

Now that summer is here, hot afternoons are a perfect time for children to spend a little time on the computer. I typed in "Free learning websites for children", and so many came up that it would be impossible to list them all here. One site I highly recommend isStarfall. It is good for teaching reading and may be used for preschoolers through the lower elementary grades. Two other websites our daughter-in-law recommends arehttp://www.ditk-kids.com/ and www.worksheetworks.com. Other websites for math are available. Some sites even have games and craft instructions. The creators of these sites have done an excellent job of making learning fun. Children will often learn faster and retain learning from these sites better than they do from their traditional school work. Our daughter-in-law has used Starfall and other sites with our grandson and he can pick up many children's books and read them. He is not yet five and has not started kindergarten.

There are computers available in many libraries if you do not have one at home. Kimberling Area Library has several computers for free use. However, I would suggest that if at all possible, each home should try to have a computer. You do not have to have a state of the art computer for children to begin learning the basics. Often, when people buy a new computer, they donate their used one to places like Christian Associates or the Salvation Army. These can often be purchased at very low prices and many are in good working condition but simply do not have the most recent technology.

Along with reading, writing, playing, learning to do chores, and church activities, computer usage can be a very valuable use of time while the children are at home this summer.