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Ready, Set, Click!
Learning Computers the Preschool Way By Sharon Waldrop
School and Computers
"I'm very surprised by the way many preschoolers already know how to manipulate the mouse on our school computers," says Odyssey Wofford, a preschool director and teacher in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. "It takes a great deal of eye-hand coordination and I have seen 2 -year-olds very capable of moving the mouse and clicking on a specific icon," she says. Wofford says that the older children in her preschool, ages 4 and up, have surprised her by being able to follow directions on a game they have never played before. "They are able to pick up concepts on the computer quickly and the children who are just watching are able to sit down and start a game with no problem when it is their turn. It's just amazing watching today's children work on computers. They know more than I do at times!"
Internet Safety
Exploring fingers can easily wander into an online world inappropriate for children. There are ways to keep children in a child-friendly Web environment: - Familiarize yourself with the links provided by your child's favorite Web sites.
- Surf the Web with your child.
- Allow Internet access only when you are in the room with your child.
- Teach your child not to open e-mail sent by unfamiliar email addresses.
- Take advantage of any parental block features provided by your ISP.
- Tell your child to let you know immediately if a message flashes on the screen.
Ready, Set, Click!
Many preschoolers of the new millennium are computer literate and the word "mouse" means more to them than a little furry friend with long whiskers. While learning their ABCs and 1,2,3s, they are clicking and dragging and having a great time!