And it is probably time to remove that TV and DVD player from the bedroom. Researchers have found that 90% of children under age 2 and 40% of infants under three months watched TV regularly - majority of that inside the bedroom.
My two-year old son is now a frequent visitor to my "blogging office" and does spend few minutes with me on the computer. Now he's too young to handle the mouse or keyboard so here's how I try to keep him engaged:
Self Running Flickr Slideshows - Flickr has a good collection of photo pools containing pictures of animals and birds from around the world. Each photo pool has a "View as Slideshow" link that will play all the group photos a a slideshow without intervention.
If you want to continue working while the kid is engrossed in the wildlife, open the slideshow on your secondary monitor while you work on the primary monitor screen. [Trick works only when you have dual screen]
Nursery Rhymes and Cartoon Movies on YouTube - Most video sharing sites like Google Video and YouTube have an extensive collection of English nursery rhymes and animation movies including Tom n' Jerry and Mickey mouse - Put these video in one playlist, click the "Play all videos" button and let kids enjoy the stuff.
Microsoft Screenpen - Sometime when you kid insists on using the mouse, get the Microsoft ZoomIt or ArtRage software. They are like virtual painting software and turn the computer screen into a drawing canvas where the mouse become the brush.
You can also save his "creative artwork" as an image, take a print and hang the painting on his bedroom wall. Earlier studies have suggested that ten minutes of computer exposure, three or four times a week, is a good guide.
Related: Parents Can Track Children Via Mobile Phones
Find this article at: http://labnol.blogspot.com/2007/05/computers-for-kids-who-are-too-young-to.html
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org
Reader Comments
Oh my Gawd! Where were you when my little google was 3??? Now he is six and can operate google video search with the best of us.
That said, do you have any ideas for ensuring that he doesn't go looking for Gandhi videos only to find that silly Gandhi pole dance that was out several months ago. (Is nothing sacred?!)
Thanks for your great ideas and finds. Oh, and we kicked our TV to the curb 2 years ago. Why have the temptation? We don't keep sugar in the house, either. Have to go out for that.
Heather Flanagan
www.visualizepossibilities.com
Written on 10/5/07 11:50 AM
My daughter is one, and I generally don't have the TV on when she's awake. However, sometimes when it is on, she doesn't particularly care to watch it.
And as for computers, she's still too young to handle the mouse, and the only button she likes to press on the keyboard is the big, round standby button!
But I can keep her attention at the comp for upto 10 minutes if I have music or rhymes playing, or by reading an online story from some kiddy websites. Failing all else, I play her own videos back to her - she loves those, the little narcissist!
Your tips are interesting - particularly the last one. I should get them for when she's a little older.
Written on 10/5/07 2:45 PM
@Heather - Not sure how to block such videos from kids but you I would keep the computer in the family room or some visible space to reduce such risks.
@MM - You may also try Tux Paint - it's an awesome painting software for kids - absolutely free. Most children love it.
Written on 10/5/07 3:15 PM