In homes, day care centers, extracurricular programs, libraries and schools, computers have emerged as a popular tool for children. Technology has deeply influenced children's lives, with many schools establishing computer science as a required subject or as part of a weekly library program. Parents and teachers sometimes balk at the notion of children using computers, but computers, software and the Internet offer children numerous benefits.
Educational Software
Educational site KidSource recommends that children in the primary grades have access to computers with developmentally appropriate software. Children should have opportunities to make decisions, choosing from a library of educational software, or selecting specific activities within a larger theme. Some software provides traditional drill practice for skills such as adding, subtracting, phonics and spelling, while other software allows children to delve into critical thinking tasks such as creating stories, building cities, doing artwork or studying scientific phenomena.
Online Research
Children can use websites and online reference materials to conduct research, either for school projects or to answer their questions and follow their interests. However, children typically do not have the Internet know-how to distinguish between reputable, informative websites and those with excessive advertising and biased information. The American Library Association has assembled a list of more than 700 websites that provide child-centered information. The topics fall into the categories of animals, the arts, history and biography, literature and languages, reference, mathematics and computers, sciences, and social sciences. In addition, the list features links to sites of interest for parents and educators.
Social Tool
A position paper published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children asserts that a well-designed computer area and lesson promotes, rather than inhibits, social interaction. Placing children in pairs at a computer means they can collaborate, problem solve, discuss and make decisions together. Parents and educators have to set guidelines ensuring that both children get to participate. If children play a developmentally appropriate computer game together, they also learn to take turns and strategize. Computer activities typically entail following written or verbal directions.
