We made the mistake of showing our Thomas-crazy 2.5 yr old the Thomas the Tank engine web site, and youTube, where you can ALWAYS watch a Thomas video. Now he wants to "play 'puter" all the time. These days he mostly wants to play the games on the Thomas web site. The games require use of a mouse. I always use the mouse in these games. Today for the first time I saw him try to use the mouse himself. It's a trackball and he couldn't actually use it, but he understands the concept. At what age did your children start to understand how a mouse works and how to play some simple interactive computer games? Is there such a thing as a child-friendly mouse?
My son started using the computer (with mouse) on his own at 2.5 for www.starfall.com
It was rather shocking, actually. But he very easily learned to be gentle with it.
My sons have all been able to use the computer since a few months past their 2nd birthdays. Yes, they seem to struggle in the beginning but just leave them alone and watch how they progress with practice!! My 2.5 year old now knows how to go to the start menu, click, scroll up to his game, or double click on the desktop to start his game. :) I've never had a special mouse for them. Just the one we all use.
My daughter started using the computer at 3 yr old. We only let her play games on http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/mickeymouseclubhouse
We don't have a mouse on our computer, she uses the laptop that has the touch pad.
my son was about 2 when he first started using the computer at daycare. if you leave them to their own devices they will get it eventually. or sit there with him and help him he will get it. when it's something they really want to do they will learn how to master it. just make sure you let him know he must ask before using the "puter" and you shoud be good to go. good luck.( at four my son know how to use the mouse and the fingerpad from just getting on the computer and the laptop wanting to play his little games, he is also a thomas fan)
I had to laugh, I also made the mistake of showing my Thomas crazy grandson the Thomas web site and he too wanted to play the games. He was 3 and I would sit him on my lap, put his hand on the mouse and then put my hand on his and help him do the games. He learned quickly. The easiest games for him at first were the match games and the jig saw puzzles.
Yep, at about 2 years old, both my kids played/used the computer.
Their dexterity will improve.
Its fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination etc.
if you have an iPhone or iPad... it is real instinctive and just using the finger tips to navigate it... they have LOTS of child/toddler apps (applications/games) and it real fun and educational too.
My kids use that better than me.
Or, get him a Leapster. Its a handheld game, educational, fun... and my kids were using that from 2 years old, on their own. Lots of good educational/fun learning games for it. They will learn concepts/numbers/alphabets/sight reading/math/memory games with it.
Look online like at Amazon or Walmart has it too.
My kids still use their Leapsters. Its a good "tool" and a fun thing for them to entertain themselves.... independently.
good luck,
Susan
My own children were 2, 5, and 7 when we got our first computers and they all learned to use simple games and educational games pretty much right away. Our 3rd daughter could install programs and use them at age 3. Some of our daycare children have been very proficient at 2.5-3 years of age. But most of them still struggle with the mouse and get frustrated at the age of 3. By 3.5 they are always good at it in my house. The young ones learn by sitting next to the older kids when they are doing their programs. I look up one day and the new 3 year olds are working too. I get frustrated myself trying to teach the little ones. So I let the one room school house take effect. I provide SEVERAL computers and lots of games and encourage them all to use them often. If you don't have an older child to help, then it's gonna be up to you. I don't have any great tips for teaching them. Once they get the mouse going though, the rest is a piece of cake.
buy a big mouse.. it's easy for children.. go to best buy or a computer store.. and see if you can find one.. my daughter was about 2.5 or 3 and my son was about 3.5 when they started using the mouse and the computer.. you can check out other website nick jr. has a great website too.. as does sesame street.. check them all out.. but don't let him on all the time .. they need other things to do too... maybe if you teach him after lunch.. or something like that.. good luck. have fun.
My kid has been obsessed with the computer before he could even walk! At 2 he could already call grandma on Skype (until I made sure that I needed to actually type in my password instead of it just remembering it) and he could 3 way both grandmas on the iphone.
I don't let him play any of the games online (and thank you so much for "warning" me about the Thomas site. I need to make sure I NEVER accidentally let him see that- LOL). We do watch lots of stuff on YouTube, though and right now one of his faves in the Snape Puppet video about the ticking noise. He also plays with our Wii (sports and a couple of kid games like Diego and Cars).
There are kid sized mice, so you might want to try those. I don't really know much about them since we only use our laptops so he just learned to use his fingers to get things done. Do you just have the plain mouse that came with your computer? That one might be easier for him to use and once you show him how to use it, I'm sure that he'll pick it up quicker than anything.
We were given an older computer when my daughter was about 3. It is setup in her room w/ no Internet access. All she has on it right now is one learning game (can't remember the name, it's got a duck that visits his grandma's house...). She already knows the stuff it teaches (letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc), but it is giving her practice with the mouse.
It's just a regular mouse, but you can buy a mouse & keyboard made for kids that is just smaller than normal. Also, you can change your computer's mouse settings so that it slows down. When the mouse is moved, it won't move as far & as fast. So when the kids "shake" it around, the cursor isn't flying all over the screen where they can't see it! This helps them to learn to move the mouse & watch where the cursor is going.
My daughter is 4 now and can pretty much play her game on her own. As for anything on the Internet, we always control that for her on our computers. She loves YouTube as well! haha
I don't remember how old my son was when he started using the computer, but I know that he would get very frustrated with the mouse. He knew what to do, but couldn't control it because he had trouble with fine motor skills. What we ended up doing was buying a touch screen monitor. (a refurbished one was cheaper than most, and we even had it replaced once under the warranty). That way he could just touch directly the buttons he saw on the screen. We mostly did computer game disks like reader rabbit baby, and the sesame street web site.
My daughter was able to use the mouse at age 2 1/2. My son around 3 1/2. Daughter was able to write much earlier as well.
3..........but she probably could have used some sooner, it just never occured to me
Our 15 yr old has always loved the computer. She wanted to be like mommy and addy always working on the computer.
We got her a V-Tech laptop to play with (it had a mouse) and she loved it...It actually still works.
She started the Jumpstart Series programs by the time she was 2 or so. We started with Toddler, Preschool, and up to 3rd grade.
I say let him learn and encourage it of course as long as he in not on it 24/7.
My youngest was about 3. He clicks the right button instead of the left so I change it on the computer options for him.
My boys favorite game is 'The Human Body'. It is a game that teaches kids about the human body. It probly wouldn't interest a 2.5 y/o.
God bless!
two and a half. by 4 they were proficient. now at 6 i have had to block a lot of things as they know how to get around. my then 5 year old 'cracked' my password in one of my emails. so smart. but it can get addictive so time the time, my kids get 1 hr a day (split 30 min at a time)
good luck
