Writer's Block: The Perfect Kid-Friendly Laptop

[lizzybennet]

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I find it interesting that so many people are angry about this question. The most common answer is "kids don't need more screens, they should be outside playing." But isn't this hypocritical? It's ok for an adult to use laptops but not kids? I find it very unrealistic to say kids shouldn't use computers. Raising a kid that doesn't use a computer in this generation is like raising a kid that doesn't know how to read or write. It's become an integral part of American society and trying to tell kids that access to computers will harm their childhood is inaccurate. Of course, there should be balance in all things. Kids shouldn't have hours of daily computer time just like we wouldn't lock them outside and expect them play outdoors for 10 hours a day. An hour a day of game/computer time is plenty.

Children have regular computer/typing classes in elementary school these days, just as they do PE, art and music. It's naive to believe that the raising generation won't be plugged in to a level we've never experienced before. Even the "kids" in college right now are constantly texting/tweeting/etc. It all comes down to parents. Teach a love of reading along with an understand of computers, as well as an appreciation for outdoors.

And, just to answer the question, for a kid-friendly laptop I include the following components:

-No downloads without parental approval.
-Keys that don't pop off easily when little fingers pull at them.
-Plenty of memory and processing ability to handle highly interactive sites. My computer is relatively new and there are still some kids sites that freeze it up (nick.com, for example.)
-Internet filtering software that cannot be circumvented by a crafty kid, but that can also be adjusted by parents as the kids get older. A smart piece of software that isn't going to filter everything out that has the word "sex" in it. Sextants are perfectly acceptable topics of research :)

Comments

[ticklethepear.livejournal.com]

Extra large keys + spill proof?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

exactly! I was thinking also something about left-handed vs. right-handed (petey is a lefty) but then they probably do make such a machine already.

[heatherejc.livejournal.com]

Hah, my MIL told me once that she let both of her children spend way too much time on the computer when they were kids. But now both of them work in the field of computers without ever having gone to school for computers. I think she needs to rethink it as her giving them future job skills.

And she's already told me that she's bought Ansel a toddler laptop for his birthday. I'm hoping he likes it, because I'm tired of him trying to poke at the keys when I'm on my laptop.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'd be really interested to know more about the toddler laptop. What company makes it? I wonder if the screen will be wipe-able? That's one of the things that bothers me about sharing my computer with my kids. Grubby little finger prints all over the screen!

[scotophobic.livejournal.com]

I am one of the people who said children shouldn't have laptops.
While I agree with you in saying that kids need to learn how to use a computer at a young age, I don't believe they should have a computer to themselves, which I feel this question is implying.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

For me, a laptop solely for my kids would be a luxury. I haven't bought one for my kids, nor would I unless I was in the position to have lots of money to blow. I didn't really analyze what the question was implying (that children should have laptops) but I do agree with you that does seem to be the point of the "question" (which we can all agree was a thinly disguised attempt at R&D.) I suppose I have a different outlook on this issue because I am very tuned in to how my kids use my laptop. They can't use it private, they only get an hour a day of "game time", so they need to choose between the computer and video games. I believe in the importance of teaching them how to use computers, and letting them be comfortable with them, yet I am going to be actively involved in that process.

Still, it would be nice to not have to share *my* computer with three kids :)

[psalm91.livejournal.com]

i agree with scotophobic

seriously speaking- kids need to pick up a book more than be online. They need to learn the value of creativity and spending time with family before getting there own laptop. Own computers and so forth should come about age 10 and up. age 10 is for the exepitonal.

yes i am somewhat hypocritical considering i spend most of my time on the internet, but i am trying to get a business going and i write quite a bit online.

the reason why i dont want my kid (if i had one) to be online is because of all the stuff they can run into. Sure you can't protect them from everything but those horror stories of kids going online being spammed by there fellow classmates?

it's not going to kill a kid if they didn't have there own personal computer for awhile.
It might be becoming a necassary item but what should happen if the worst was to happen? Kids need coping skills along with computer skills to and coping skills are slowly being wiped out.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I just think there needs to be balance. Just because a kid plays on a computer doesn't mean he never reads. I do have kids, and I'm very tuned in to how they spend their time online. They aren't allowed to chat or use social networking tools yet (the oldest is 10) and they aren't allowed to use the computer in private. But I do agree with you that kids don't need their own personal computers (although it would be nice not to have to share mine :) We've had lots of conversations about safety rules on the Internet. I felt that most of the people responding to this question were saying that kids don't need to use computers, period. That's the point I disagree with.

[sunrise0124.livejournal.com]

I agree with mysteena here. I really do not understand what all the huffing and puffing is about. i don't see it implying that it would be for kids only it just says kid friendly. It doesn't say for kids only.

For my daughter it is one of the few ways we can read her writings. her handwriting is below grade level due to her fine motor skills being lower than they should be for her age. Her spelling is not great either but at least when it's typed I can read (for the most part)what's she's trying to say. She loves to write stories and pretty much no one can read them when they are hand written. So I let her use word to write her stories so that she can be creative. For her a computer is almost a necessity for that reason. She may only be starting 2nd grade but it's even something that's been in the list of recommendations after her testing was done. Her computers are usually hand me downs so I don't go buy her a brand new computer.

I've even heard of schools requiring their kids to have one in some grades. Not where I live but I've heard of it happening.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

What excellent points! I wish I'd thought of them when I was trying to defend my point. Computers are not only for games. They are wonderful learning tools as well.

[themenow.livejournal.com]

A big bright and colorful computer! Ooh, a laptop with a key board that can be changed out so when needed the keys can be big and then get smaller as hands get bigger!

I like your idea of balance between computer and playing. So much evertyhing is computerized now it's hard to not let them use computers, or at least, I would imagine.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I wonder if they can ever invent one that is wipe-down-able? Sometime kids are just so sticky!