Software (and Appropriate Input Device) For a Toddler? 417
An anonymous reader writes "I have an 18-month-old who loves bright screens (TV and computer), loves loud noises, and loves to mash buttons. He targets my laptop with the button-mashing, and I sort of hate having to tell him 'no' when he wants to explore a computer. I was wondering if anyone knows of some fun (and maybe educational) age-specific PC software that also comes with an age-appropriate input device. I've seen those big-button devices in retail stores that seem to just hook up to the TV, and I've also seen some PC software that requires keyboard/mouse input, which does not seem like the right input device for a toddler."
Fisher-Price (Score:4, Informative)
Check out your local Wal*Mart like store for stuff like this Fisher-Price [amazon.com] edu-toy. My nephew has something a little less complex (and more appropriate, possibly, for your situation) but I cannot remember the name of it, only that it's from Fisher-Price. (:
This might be helpful [bizrate.com], too.
Normal (Score:1, Informative)
Regular Keyboard, Mouse. Normal computer, just not your "top of the line gaming rig". I come from a philosophy that if they are old enough to use something, they are old enough to use the adult version, just under close supervision, and specific direction. If you just want them to be babysat by the computer, might as well put them in front of Elmo on Sesame street on the tv.
Perhaps if you want to keep it simple, iPad.
Leapster (Score:2, Informative)
Keywhack.. (Score:5, Informative)
Both my kids started out with a great little app called Keywack. [holymackerelsoftware.com]
I took an old Mac Classic [ebay.com] sitting in my basement, ran Keywack and the kids loved it. Never trashed the computer either, which I was sure they would do.
Keywack runs on anything, Win/Mac/Lin, and helped me get my kids learning about tech at around 18 months. The fact they are both capable programmers (one a senior in high school, another im middle school) might have something to do with their early comfort level, or it might not. But give it a try...
BabySmash! (Score:4, Informative)
I've been using BabySmash! from http://www.hanselman.com/babysmash/ [hanselman.com] with my 7 month old since she was around 2 months old.
She can press any key on the keyboard to get sounds and shapes/letters. She absolutely loves it.
I'm now looking for software that is slightly more advanced, but there seems to be a lack of games in this age range...
iPod touch/iPad (Score:3, Informative)
An iPod touch or an iPad aren't bad options.
The interface is about as intuitive as you can get, and there are child-friendly apps available. My 21mo daughter loves to play with the touch screen, and can figure out that she needs to touch the icons to get it to do stuff. A friend's slightly older daughter does about the same with their iPad. Both are also synced with a computer, so it's difficult for them to do irreparable damage. Purchasing music/video from the device requires you to enter your iTunes password, so it's not likely they'll be able to buy stuff either.
The downside is that they're fairly expensive, so if your kid is big on jelly-fingers or throwing things, it might require keeping a very close on them.
Duke Nukem Forever (Score:3, Informative)
Just buy him a copy of Duke Nukem Forever. It'll be age appropriate.
Keep children under 3 from all tv (Score:5, Informative)
Numerous studies indicate that is is best to keep children under 3 away from all tv's, including dvd's, normal tv programming, movies, video games,etc... and to limit video exposure only increasing allowed hours per day gradually as the child gets older.
No tv under 2, limit to under 2 hours for 3 year [kidshealth.org]
No tv under 2 [umich.edu]
I learned my alpabet from a commodore64 (Score:2, Informative)
starting age 2½, it was an expensive machine when I was young, but under supervision. What matters most is spending time with your child ad teach him/her LOVE, and yes, he should learn the meaning of "no", it's important, you know better than him/her, electronics (tv, computers) can wait a couple of years.
Some classical music playing in the background (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Please reconsider (Score:5, Informative)
Regardless, no matter how a child is raised, it is mostly important to be involved with their day to day actions. Watching them soak up information and apply it is a huge testament to how incredible they are, which is also why it's important to remain involved and direct them.
bambam for linux (Score:1, Informative)
Babymash and Baby Smash (Score:3, Informative)
As babies smash on the keyboard, colored shapes, letters and numbers appear on the screen. Baby Smash will lock out the Windows Key, as well as Ctrl-Esc and Alt-Tab so your baby can't get out of the application. Pressing ALT-F4 will exit the application and Shift-Ctrl-Alt-O brings up the options dialog.
Re:iPad is a great device for kids (Score:3, Informative)
Now, I have been trying to find a decent child's keyboard. I've found some, but they've been unrealistically expensive. I can understand $30-$50. But I've seen some in the $100 range. I'm also thinking of a trackball for the pointing device, but they seem to do well with a mouse.
Just make sure to keep the cheap computer out of reach and use an older monitor, CRT if possible. They can take the hits. A lot of the games don't need special graphics (the Reader Rabbit games were designed at 1024x768 or 800x600 and have a definite Windows 98 VGA feel to them.)
Oh, and let me add that there are some pretty cool videos on youtube for kids. Do a search for children songs [youtube.com] or on nursery rhymes. They Might Be Giants "Here Come the 123s" and "Here Come the ABCs" are faves, as well as Eric Herman songs.
Re:Fisher-Price (Score:3, Informative)
So... the two year old knew his dad's iTunes password and re-entered it several times during multiple trips to the app store and managed to get a bill instead of a receipt for six hundred dollars?
Your friend was pulling your leg. If he sees this, expect to be laughed at.
Re:Well... (Score:3, Informative)
It's not as CUNT funny as Tourette's.
Re:Normal (Score:3, Informative)
When they're old enough, why not? Or did you miss the part about "old enough" or "under close supervision, and specific direction."?
Did no one else get to sit on their parents lap and steer the car?
Or learn to drive a stick by shifting from the passenger's seat because their dad needed his other hand to hold a beer?
Re:Playtime (Score:1, Informative)
As someone that had access to a computer for the first time @ age 10, and none before (since they didn't really exist!), I have to say that this advice is bullshit advice.
1. Somehow I managed to be way ahead of other kids in "computer stuff" (programmingm, etc.)
2. Today my job wouldn't exit without computers
3. As a kid, I would get 100% concentrated on whatever I was doing. If I was given a computer , it would not result in "part time play"
If you don't remember being a kid, let me remind you. Kids get *absorbed* into whatever interesting thing they are doing. It's not "oh, I'll let you play 30 minutes on a computer", it's "play until you are bored and find something better". Hence it is best not to allow computer usage at all and play with your child and allow them to play with other kids.
Kids need social interaction and physical play. Provide that to them. I know it is easier to let them stare at a computer or idiot box, but that is just bad parenting.