OLD LAPTOP as educational toy?

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

I've an old Toshiba 430 CDT laptop - P133, 36 MB RAM (!), 1.2 GB HDD... and a single USB 1.1 port - which has been gathering dust in my storage over the last year.

I was going to send it to Romania, as part of an on-going program of donations, until it dawned on me that I can use it for a while as an educational tool for my son (who will turn 3 in May).

This prompted an avalanche of questions, and I'm trying to determine if this is a good idea.

First of all, how early can children be introduced to computers? I have somewhere a CD with educational activities and software for children, and I'm pretty sure the label says it's good for ages 3-8. But I'm sure there are other people with children in here - what is YOUR experience?

Of course, there are issues related to safety (no web browsing!), and build quality (although the laptop is a sturdy one, its LCD screen remains a big vulnerable point.) However, if the child is well-behaved and not prone to temper tantrums or rage and destruction fits, I think all major problems could be avoided.

Any other parents who care to share their views on this idea?

 

[pontifex]

my 1 year old niece loves pressing the keys on my keyboard and moving the mouse.

 

[2Xtreme21]

My dad introduced me to "shoot 'em up games" like Wolfenstein 3D when I was like 5. He also taught me DOS stuff at age 8ish and gave me a book with BASIC programs in it, with which I liked playing.

 

[Uhtrinity]

My son started at two, at just over four he still can't read, but he can navigate windows, all of installed games (educational and non-educational) as well as a web browser. He has also known how to turn on and shut down the computer since about two and a half. Also since he is left handed he has learned to use the mouse with either hand, which I cannot do.

The funny thing, for Christmas I upgraded my dads computer so he could graduate past solitaire. My son spent a good part of Christmas morning showing him how to play Warcraft 3.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

 

[theprodigalrebel]

K33p h!m off teh internets. 3 is 2 'ung 2 eb eXp0sed twho 1337-sp3k.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

You started programming when most kids are learning to talk...?

 

[Tsaico]

I would be prone to say it is fine to let them tap and move the mouse. I would think they lack the dexterity to really get into the guts of things, but I feel the more familiarity the better. I also like the idea of letting them handle some basic programming. It is an easy to learn and understand language. Good luck!

 

[nakedfrog]

Age 2-6 is fine.

 

[DougK62]

Introduce them to the computer as soon as possible. Sooner the better.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

You started programming when most kids are learning to talk...?

Well, it was BASIC, and I wasn't exactly making epic RPGs. I understood PRINT, GOTO, IF, the basics. Didn't get the idea behind GOSUB for awhile though.

- M4H

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

You started programming when most kids are learning to talk...?

Well, it was BASIC, and I wasn't exactly making epic RPGs. I understood PRINT, GOTO, IF, the basics. Didn't get the idea behind GOSUB for awhile though.

- M4H

Sorry M4H, but SHENS

 

[49erinnc]

I remember visiting my nephew when he turned two and was blown away at how advanced he was with a computer. He was playing several games and was fully aware of game controls on the mouse and keyboard. He was playing some helicopter game for kids that even looked a little fun to us adults. He also knew how to boot up and shut down the computer, as well as some other things with Windows. Personally, I think it's great and the younger the better, as long as it's not at the expense of missing out on outdoor play and social interaction with other kids. I remember being a kid and having a blast with my Commodore 64. I think that paved the way for how much I love computers now in my 30's.

 

[BKLounger]

my g/f's niece is just turning 4 and she just got an old hand me down 1ghz machine so she could play here learning games on that (the parents got tired of her using their computer). But since she was 3 she has been able to put the disc in click around to start then game and so on. I say introduce the child as soon as possible. Computers are a big part of todays culture and you don't want to keep that from them.

She still hasn't figured out how to fix the computer when it bsod's though. She just pulls me over and asks me to fix it.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

My younger brother has had a computer with internet access at his disposal his whole life and was browsing websites by the time he was just a few years old, maybe 4 or 5?

There's no reason to not get started soon - just show him some fun things to do and they'll be sucked away very quickly. You'll find yourself looking for a new computer for him within a short period of time I can bet.

I'd say to avoid the internet at first, there's plenty to do without it. If they request to use it, ask why, and limit what they can do just to protect them at that young age from all the stuff out there. Teach him to make websites with something like Dreamweaver.

 

[j00fek]

my nephew is 3 and he can already play all his thomas games on my old athlon box i gave him

 

[HybridSquirrel]

asap imo. my nephew turned 2 last night and he plays wow and other mmos with me all the time, he doesnt know how but i mean he moves the character around and clicks but hes getting better at it. i seriously think kids by the 3rd grade will start carrying cell phones, if not laptops

 

[Al Neri]

my dad sat me in front of an atari 400 (could have been an 800?) around 1983 (when I was just about 1), I used to just hit all the keys...

eventually my love affair with computers was born.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

You started programming when most kids are learning to talk...?

Well, it was BASIC, and I wasn't exactly making epic RPGs. I understood PRINT, GOTO, IF, the basics. Didn't get the idea behind GOSUB for awhile though.

- M4H

Sorry M4H, but SHENS

I'll have to ask my parents to dust off my baby journal.

Seriously, it wasn't anything complex. I never got into anything deeper than the 40x40 "Low-Res" graphics.

- M4H

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
my dad sat me in front of an atari 400 (could have been an 800?) around 1983 (when I was just about 1), I used to just hit all the keys...

eventually my love affair with computers was born.

They take up your time, money, and many long nights - sounds like love to me. Did I forget the pain and suffering?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
PROGRAMMING FTW. I started at about 2.5yrs with an Apple II and BASIC.

Just keep him off the Internet, and don't let the non-computer related activity slack.

- M4H

You started programming when most kids are learning to talk...?

Well, it was BASIC, and I wasn't exactly making epic RPGs. I understood PRINT, GOTO, IF, the basics. Didn't get the idea behind GOSUB for awhile though.

- M4H

Sorry M4H, but SHENS

I'll have to ask my parents to dust off my baby journal.

Seriously, it wasn't anything complex. I never got into anything deeper than the 40x40 "Low-Res" graphics.

- M4H

You must admit it seems a bit far-fetched... You'd have to have learned to read and write and more before you could program.

 

[Nerva]

the first thing i looked up on the internet was pron, and this was 10+ years ago.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: mugs
You must admit it seems a bit far-fetched... You'd have to have learned to read and write and more before you could program.

I was reading before then as well. I've never been good at writing - I imagine the early introduction to a keyboard is at least partially responsible for that. Yes, I know it sounds "rediculous" but that's my history with computers.

It was all pretty benign until 1993.

- M4H

 

[Bryophyte]

My kids had the hang of controlling a mouse and playing simple games by 18 months. They are both left-handed but I introduced them to computers with right-handed mousing so they'd be comfortable with it from the very beginning.

Edit: I have kept them off the internet for the most part. They do not have email addresses, IM, or free access to the internet. Supervised time on the internet is limited and very infrequent.

 

[TXHokie]

I introduced my kids to computers around 2.5 yrs old. By 3 they can log into XP with their own account and password and run programs. I locked down their profile so they can only go to disney.com and starfall.com (great kids educational sites). At 3 they're expert now on manipulating the keyboard and mouse, change icons in their profile, have learned all their ABC's and already start to recognize words thanks to those educational websites. My 6 years old has even taken over the "techsupport" role for the 3 years old teaching the younger one how to navigate Windows.
I just gotta make sure they don't go into IT as their profession