Small children may gravitate toward computers in imitation of adults and caregivers, who may use them for professional or personal use. Moreover, children who already enjoy using computers may readily adapt to using them for educational purposes. Understanding the benefits of computer use for children can enable adults to initiate and encourage computer use.
Reading Comprehension
Use computers as reading tools, whether perusing websites or using interactive materials. The National Institutes of Health and Human Development, NIHHD, notes that children who have difficulty speaking or listening may effectively use computers to practice and demonstrate language recognition. Multimedia presentations can help capture a child's attention, and formatting practices, such as hypertext, can help enforce particular learning concepts.
Writing Skills
Introduce students to email or word processing software, to provide real-life applications for increased language skills. The NIHHD notes that word processing software can help students connect and stimulate reading and writing. Word processing software can also help educators save drafts, track changes and change the formatting of texts, which can help them chart progress and motivate students to stay focused.
Collaboration
Computers enable children to interact with a larger peer group than may be available in their immediate community. In a report of projects funded by the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, the Secretary of U.S. Department of Commerce, William Daley, stated that computers enabled students in Vermont to post and respond to musical compositions from across the state, thus fueling the creative and critical processes.
