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."
Anonymous Coward (Score:3, Insightful)
Just buy, beg or borrow an old electronic keyboard. Much more fun for an 18 month old. (Was for mine)
Please reconsider (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Please reconsider (Score:3, Insightful)
Don't (Score:5, Insightful)
18 months is waaaaaaaaaay to early to introduce stuff like that.
Let the toddler be a toddler. All that baby Einstein-esque crap has been proven to be nothing but trouble for your child's NORMAL development.
Re:Please reconsider (Score:4, Insightful)
I second this. Kids that age need to learn how to play with phisical things, computers can come later. As a father of two I know what I'm talking about.
Re:Please reconsider (Score:3, Insightful)
The best toy for a kid that age is a good sized cardboard box. Nothing else comes close when it comes to stimulating their imagination, curiosity and social development. If you for some reason are opposed to cardboard boxes: How about some real world open ended interactive toys like blocks, teddybears, a tricycle, a pail and a shovel, some toy cars or a ... gasp... big red ball?
+1.
And don't forget - turn off the TV, put down the laptop, and interact as a human. Toddlers don't need computers, they need messy tactile 3D objects and people to interact with. Computers (and TV) should come later, when social and physical skills are developed.
Re:Playtime (Score:5, Insightful)
If only there was some middle ground between letting him play with it all the time and completely prohibiting him...
Re:Please reconsider (Score:3, Insightful)
Another mod up for this; an 18-month old has no need to be using a computer! My 22 month old likes building with plastic bricks - I help her out suggesting and starting a structure e.g. a house for her duck teddy and she carries on working out where stuff fits. Being a girl she also likes throwing tea parties for the teddies and changing and feeding a doll.
She also likes the bright screens of laptops and TVs, but when she does watch TV like Peppa Pig and Something Special (not sure if you get those in USA), she just kind of glazes over and clearly isn't really thinking anywhere near as much as she does at other times. A PC is a bit more interactive, but I think she would just watch the moving lights, rather than learning. We let her watch a bit of TV, partly because we've also got a newborn needing attention, which is very difficult to deal with particularly while I'm at work. But ideally we'd keep her occupied with other toys the whole day.
Re:Some classical music playing in the background (Score:4, Insightful)
> I'm sure computers are the same.
No, because computers are interactive.
Re:Please reconsider (Score:5, Insightful)
Numerous studies have shown detrimental effects to child brain development associated with the early introduction of television and computers. No, you can't get around these detrimental effects by using "age-appropriate" or "educational" shows and games. Apparently, something about the *medium*, not simply the message, is causing these negative impacts. Perhaps it's the pacing of the material, the quick transitions, or the sugary over-the-top positive feedback that they get for completing even the most simple task in an educational game. For me, I don't need to know exactly what is causing the negative impacts - I see no serious side effects associated with withholding computers and television for now.
I know you might thing that you're helping your child out by letting him get an early start on computers, but keep in mind that some things are much easier for someone to learn at a particular age. For example, I always have to bite my tongue when one of my friends tells me with great pride "It's AMAZING! My two year old already knows how to use a mouse!!!" I always *want* to say "Were you really under the impression that he was going to have a problem picking that up?" Honestly, people, it's a MOUSE. It's DESIGNED to be easy to use. I think it would take a 10, 20, or 30 year old with no training about a minute to figure it out and an hour to master it, and they'll understand the full context and purpose of the mouse and the computer - things that the 2 year old couldn't possibly comprehend. Controlling a mouse isn't something that your child needs a "head start" on.
You could attempt to teach your 2 year old the periodic table, but I think we can all agree that he'll pick that up just fine when it's time to study Chemistry in high school. Maybe it's time to focus on how to dig holes, stack blocks, and chase you around the house instead?
Re:Normal (Score:4, Insightful)
Better yet, give him a Big Wheel and box full of Legos. Maybe spend time with him outside with a ball and mitt.
I know you mean well, but the kid's going to have plenty of time to develop a sedentary lifestyle and sit in front of a screen and keyboard. Let him at least have a chance to be healthy and active for a little while. Maybe he'll develop some good physical habits before becoming a computer geek like Dad.
I'm joking about "being a computer geek like Dad" but not about letting the kid run around and play and get some exercise and wait until he has a use for a computer before you plant him in front of one. How about this? When he comes to you and says, "I need a computer so I can..." THEN, you can set him up with a nice Ubuntu box, but only if he wants to do something worthwhile with it.
Take good care of that kid. The habits he forms now will most likely stay with him forever. Don't assume that because you love sitting and working at a computer that it's the best thing for him.
WTF?? (Score:3, Insightful)
18 months? Are you serious?
Why my daughter was that age, I gave her an old PC keyboard that wasn't connected to anything else. She loved banging on it and pretending to work with Dad.
Give your kids something simple that will make them use their imagination. You don't want to kill off appreciation of simple toys by the time they're 4.
Best I/O devices (Score:5, Insightful)
The best devices I've found have been both input and output. To wit:
Re:iPad is a great device for kids (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Please reconsider (Score:2, Insightful)
However, considering the advice he's given, he does know much more about raising children than the bunch of guys (and the OP too) who recommend computers, iPods and electronic gadgets to an 18mo toddler - he's 18mo old for God's sake!
Re:Playtime (Score:3, Insightful)
Totally.
"I sort of hate having to tell him 'no' when he wants to explore a computer."
This set off a red flag in my head. Learning how to say no is important. Otherwise they'll walk all over you.
Re:Fisher-Price (Score:3, Insightful)
Nah, just get a cheap USB keyboard and small mouse. For a while, you won't even have to plug them in ;).
Your kids want to imitate you, let them.
Re:Please reconsider (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:iPad is a great device for kids (Score:1, Insightful)
It's called supervised play :) My son has been using my various iDevices since he was 18 months old. He started out on my old iPod touch and now at 3 I trust him to navigate the iPad by himself. I'm all ways in view distance when he decides he wants to use a computer (desktop included).
I would not buy an iPad specifically for my son but he's getting my iPod touch if I decide to upgrade. Nickjr shows, games, learning software all in a portable package that fits in my pocket. In the mean time he's more than free to use mine anytime he wants.
You have to remember that no computer will replace hands on play but there is a ton of software for young kids out there on the iDevices. And this software should be used to reinforce what your kids have learned not be a replacement for real learning.
Re:Keep children under 3 from all tv (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Don't (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:iPad is a great device for kids (Score:3, Insightful)
Then again I remember my friends and I swapping 3.5" discs with half-a-dozen topless
Re:Keep children under 3 from all tv (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't think it's worth setting up something elaborate for an 18 month old, all they really need is something that looks like a computer so they can feel that they're doing the same thing as mummy and daddy do. An old laptop works well, or one of the cheap toy computers. My son is three at the moment and sufficiently self-controlled to be allowed to play with my laptop. I set him up with a text editor and let him "type".
Not "The" Device but "Your" Device (Score:5, Insightful)
The real issue here is whose device the kid wants to play with. He doesn't want to play with *his* fisher-price (or other) Toy, he wants to play with *your* laptop, because he sees *you* using your laptop. The kid wants attention, not the toy. Put the laptop (or whatever) away, and get him involved with something you can both do together.
Having two boys, ages 2 and 4, I know that they do not want their daddy to pay attention to his toys, rather, they want daddy to pay attention to *them*.
Learn to say 'NO' (Score:3, Insightful)
Learn to say no right now. It will be better for both you and you son.
Re:Keep children under 3 from all tv (Score:3, Insightful)
In spite of the superficial similarities of having a display and being 'something electronic', TV is vastly different to a computer from a mental stimulation and interaction perspective. TV is basically mindless zone-out hypnosis for entertainment. Computers *can* be, but can also be complex, stimulating challenging forms of mental puzzle-solving and skills development.
Life is not about mindlessly following little "rules" about what is "supposed to be" age-appropriate or not, it's about thinking about it for yourself. I'm afraid you will pass on your tendency for following "rules" rather than thinking to your kids.