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

[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 :)