What To Load On a 4-Year-Old's Netbook?

nostrodecus writes "I have a nephew who is very young, but who has the techie gene — he found the Gruffalo on YouTube before anyone knew he could spell. Now he's almost 4, and I was thinking of giving him my netbook (Acer running XP), which I hardly use any more. So, of course, I will be deleting all the porn, but what should I load up on it? Are there tools/apps that I can load up on it to protect it and him from things he shouldn't see until college? Also, what apps or games could I load on it that a 4-year-old will get some use out of?"

Regardless

[Dyinobal]

Regardless of what you install there's no guaranteed way to stop your kid from stumbling upon boobs on the internet. Plus who's to say it's something to worry about at all. They certainly didn't traumatize me.

Huh?

[Brett Buck]

Why in God's name would you give a computer to a 4-year-old? Give him a damn baseball or something, the last thing he needs in his formative years is to vegetate in front of a screen.

        Brett

Re:Regardless

[aliquis]

Exactly, why the censorship?

What apps? I have no idea. Probably gave it to the kid for a reason, what was the idea?

Something fun.

Four letter word for a four year old kid

[multipartmixed]

LOGO

If he really has the techie gene, he will seriously best his sister's crappy pen-and-paper Spirograph!

A way to turn it off and go outside to play.

[Greg Merchan]

A way to turn it off and go outside to play.

Re:Huh?

[Nikker]

If anything give him a screw driver and let him take it apart tell him what all the parts do and possibly even get it back together.

Don't blacklist...

[Haedrian]

If you're really going to give a young kid a netbook... with an internet connection then block ALL websites and connections, except ones which you trust them seeing. Or don't give them internet access at all. I wouldn't, not at that age.

When I was 4 I used to love playing around with a computer, I didn't have educational games or anything, I just to just play lemmings, or mess around with a word processor or something. Try to let the kid get used to using a computer at a young age for normal tasks.

If you really feel adventurous, give him a Pascal IDE or something.

Flash

[farnsworth]

Between PBS Kids, Club Penguin, et al, there is really no need to install or buy anything except for Flash. By the time he outgrows these games, it will be years down the road and he'll be able to figure out what to do next.

Say what you will about Flash, but there is a lot of pretty good content for kids out there.

Re:Huh?

[Picardo85]

I agree with Brett ... young kids should run around hurting themselves so that they learn not to do certain things later in life when they don't heal as easily. Climbing trees, biking, playing soccer, building stuff with hammer and nail ... in general stuff where you can hurt yourself or even better ... encourage him somehow to just use his imagination ... Personally i would give a 4-year-old DUPLO - the young kids version of LEGO

Re:Huh?

[aliquis]

Yeah, striking things with a bat or running around after balls seem so much better.

Re:Mac OSX

[Haedrian]

You could just as easily load up Linux instead for a copy costing $0.

If your kid is visiting websites which could give him viruses, then you really need to keep an eye on him.

Re:Regardless

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

Regardless of what you install there's no guaranteed way to stop your kid from stumbling upon boobs on the internet.

Yes, boobs in both senses of the word. And most likely he will stumble on to the idiot-inane-nincompoop sense first. Then the other.

Re:Huh?

[profplump]

Exactly. We all know that no useful work has ever been accomplished with a computer, and since they weren't around when I was 4 it's safe to assume that there's no use a 4-year-old could ever have for a device that can facilitate communication, entertainment, computation, artwork, reading, document creation, or access to the outside world. Clearly a round, static object is a more useful learning tool -- if you let him read the Interwebs he might learn about gravity from other people's work, rather than spending half his life trying to derive the laws of motion on his own -- a task for which the baseball is a nearly ideal tool.

Re:Huh?

[eleuthero]

development of fine motor skills comes later--four years olds are still working on gross motor skills (large movements [slashdot.org] with even the fingers). This alone is reason to encourage continued outdoor activity as without it, there might never be appropriate development for the kid and it could affect a variety of areas in his life.

Re:Huh?

[farnsworth]

Why in God's name would you give a computer to a 4-year-old? Give him a damn baseball or something, the last thing he needs in his formative years is to vegetate in front of a screen.

It's perfectly appropriate for a 4 year old to have access to a computer. There are plenty of times when it is not feasible to play baseball... Short winter days, rainy summer days, under-the-weather days, etc. Having a computer != "vegetate in front of a screen". There are plenty of things a little kid can do on a computer that are enriching. Of course he needs guidance. But he needs guidance in nearly every aspect of his life, just like every other four year old. You don't just give a kid a baseball and shove them out the door and expect them to have fun. Just like you don't just plop a kid down in front of a computer and expect them to learn anything.

Hmm

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm going to agree.

...

It keeps him occupied for hours at a stretch. It really frees me up to go shopping and other things that would have been tough with him along.

I sincerely hope you're fucking joking.

how about a fishing pole

[Dolphinzilla]

Get your 4 year old outside and away from computers for at least a little while longer, my kids cannot even contemplate getting on a bicycle and riding all over town like we did as kids, most of the time on a beautiful day in Florida they are inside surfing the web, playing computer games or texting on their cell phones. Just saying...

Tux Paint, Scratch, and Google Earth

[mwalter.nl]

I teach Technology in an elementary school and the only 3 programs I install on computers (besides my enforced MS Office Install) are Tux Paint [http://www.tuxpaint.org/download/] (don't forget the stamps!), Scratch [http://scratch.mit.edu/], and Google Earth. Just make sure you have tolerance for sound with Tux Paint and Scratch. Tux Paint will end up with a never ending cacaphony of flushing toilets and frogs, and Scratch couldleave someone wondering why you hear a looped cat meowing with drums in the background. Google Earth needs no explanation.

Re:Hmm

[BadAnalogyGuy]

You ever try to take a 4 year old grocery shopping?

If it isn't the screaming that attracts the looky lous, it's the disciplinary action I sometimes have to take.

It may not be optimal, but nothing in life ever is, you know?

Re:Huh?

[farnsworth]

development of fine motor skills comes later--four years olds are still working on gross motor skills (large movements [slashdot.org] with even the fingers). This alone is reason to encourage continued outdoor activity as without it, there might never be appropriate development for the kid and it could affect a variety of areas in his life.

A computer does not prevent or conflict with outdoor activity unless it is used inappropriately. In late November in the US the sun sets at around 5:00pm, but no four year old is ready for bed at that time. Sure, there are books and movies and craft projects and family time, but these are not always available/desirable/possible. A four year old can handle PBS Kids just fine, and there are times when it is the best choice.

Re:Regardless

[skyride]

Blender? for a 4 year old? are you actually serious?

The thread below this pretty much sums up my feelings here.

Re:Hmm

[BadAnalogyGuy]

if you can't handle raising children who listen to you, maybe you shouldn't have had them in the first place.

Well, it's a little too late for that, don't you think?

Re:Hmm

[BadAnalogyGuy]

That's insane. What police state do you live in?

Re:Hmm

[ds_online]

actually its never to late to put children who are being abused by their parents into protective custody. why don't you give me your contact information so I can pass it on to the right agency.

Re:how about a fishing pole

[JohnFluxx]

How about *you* get on a bicycle and cycle around in your spare time.

Oh, because it's not that much fun to do it all the time? Double standards?

Re:Regardless

[Opie812]

If it were just boobs, I'd have little problem with that. The thing that bothers me (have first kid on the way) is the fat-end-of-the-baseball-bat-up-the-poop-shoot type stuff that's easily available. Call me a prude, but I think that stuff should be saved for when, I dunno, the kid is 9.

Re:LOLWHAT?!?! You posted your add. and #?!?

[BadAnalogyGuy]

People here are all talk. Keyboard warriors.

In real life, they are pussies and won't do a goddamned thing about it.

Re:how about a fishing pole

[Alarindris]

It's more fun when you are a kid. Just like playing house or cowboys and indians. I can't believe I'm explaining this.

Re:Four letter word for a four year old kid

[Anonymous Coward]

(give the sister a chance to play with LOGO too, it got me into CS)

--Christine

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Hmm

[geezer nerd]

And as to the question posed by the OP, I am somewhat aghast at the idea of giving a 4-year old his own computer, particularly if it is attached to the internet. And if it is a portable, it will be soon reduced to rubble.

A child that young who can navigate the web on his own would be rare, I think. My stepdaughter gave her old Mac to her 4 year-old with some simple colorful and flashy games for him, but no attachment to the internet, and most of the time no keyboard. He loved it!

At that age, most children will enjoy watching the same video over and over again, and seldom pay much attention. Same for the computer.

Re:how about a fishing pole

[Anonymous Coward]

It's still fun, but only if you would just try it again.

A notebook for a 4 year old?

[suprcvic]

Give him some toys and send him outside where he belongs! Kids these days have no imagination because they have technology shoved in their face from the time they can grab it.

Re:Hmm

[Belial6]

Your right. It isn't child abuse for them to be outside by themselves, so everyone should remember that if they want to make a quick run down to the corner store, they should lock the kid outside. It will keep the parent out of trouble.

Seriously, just a generation ago, it was simply no big deal for a 5 year old to spend a short amount of time alone. By 10 or 11, they could spend the night alone, and by 12 or 13, they were babysitting other kids for the weekend. I don't know what kind of mass genetic disease has spread through the populations, but for those kids whose genetic code is still in tact, leaving a 5 year old at home is NOT child abuse. No matter what most state agencies say.

Re:Hmm

[Belial6]

An 8 or 9 year old that cannot spend the night alone is simply retarded. I recognize that we have codified in law that all citizens must now be retarded, but the only irresponsible thing about leaving an non-retarded 8 or 9 year old alone is that men with guns will come and victimize them. The men with guns will just happen to also have badges.

It is a police state when parents are not able to teach their children responsibility by giving them time to care for themselves in appropriate doses. What is the pinnacle of irresponsibility is never leaving your child alone until they hit the age of 18, and then sending them off to live unsupervised for the first time in a place that is infamous for alcohol abuse. Of course, in our screwed up society, having a child who has never spent a weekend alone until they are shipped off to college is considered "good parenting".

Re:Hmm

[Belial6]

While I am sorry for your child's disablement, it is probably wise given the current legal climate.

Re:Hmm

[NurturingFather]

But things have gotten so bad? Just what has gotten so bad? What is worse today than 50, 100, 150 years ago? You think leaving a child alone is something that has only recently happened in human history. You're fucking stupid if you really think that. Children get left alone all the time, always have. Children get abused all the time, always have. Children get traded all the time, always have. Same with old people and sick people. They get abused to, because nobody wants to take care of the bastards. It's always been that way. We live in the most humane society ever homey. Try to make shit better, but don't fucking think it's new. Fucking hippies.

Re:Regardless

[Huntr]

Right on. A lot of /.'ers act like seeing a naked boob or crank is the same as, oh, I don't know, seeing a dude screw a dog. It's ok if my young child (3.5 yrs) gets a glimpse of the former, but I'd rather she didn't have knowledge of the latter. Why this viewpoint is anathema here, I don't know.

Re:A way to turn it off and go outside to play.

[Greg Merchan]

Yes. Especially then. It builds character.

oh look...

[Anonymous Coward]

now he wont learn anything. And not even the obvious things one learns through childhood like playing and socializing but the things you dont really realise. For example i had an older brother and we grew up in a less than affluent household. One thing I had to learn, and i mean had to, was sharing. Whatever we had, we had one of, a video game, a computer etc and we would be pissed about it but eventually it was alright. And right now im pretty thankful of it, because it taught me
1. respect other peoples feelings and needs
2. you cant have everything you ask for

Theres always time to learn a computer, theres always time to sit in a darkened room and play video games all day but give the kid a chance yes? give him a simple toy (builds imagination creativity etc) or just a social toy (checkers set?). I've seen young kids with so and so electronic device stuck to their hand. And i've always hated the way they cant take their eyes off it.

Re:Huh?

[Belial6]

In our house, the youngest recommended age has been considered the oldest that you can expect a child to be interested in a toy. The ages on toys are like the warnings on coffee cups declaring the contents hot. They are to prevent lawsuit when the slowest of our society injure themselves doing something that they should know better than doing. Although sometimes it is still fun to play with toys that don't challenge you intellectually.

Re:Hmm

[obarthelemy]

yes there is. your post is the same assholery than people arguing that *they* can drive drunk because they know their limits so well, and handle alcohol so well. they don't, you don't, your kids are not exceptional, and your parenting skills are subpar if you think different.

little kids cannot be counted upon to be reliable safe alone for any period of time.add to that the possibility of an exogenous emergency or upset...

This is what I have loaded on my daughter's laptop

[Slackenerny]

My daughter is four and a half and I have an old work laptop built up for her. She's got some good mousing skills and scored an OCD ranking in one World of Goo level while I was doing the washing up.

Anyway....I've scoured around trying to find good content and have a good list. Steer clear of all the Disney and other commerical stuff, that stuff will rot their brains. It's also badly coded and mainly a vehicle to advertise to the kids.

This is what I have installed on her laptop. They are all links to flash sites as almost all good kids stuff is on-line now. Anything that you have to install probably lists Windows ME as the system requirement on the box:

1) Poisson Rouge (http://www.poissonrouge.com/ [poissonrouge.com]) - This is a French/English flash site with has no instructions and just encourages the child to explore the pages and work out what to do. It's probably the best site on-line for the 3-5 age group.

2) Boowah & Kwala (http://boowakwala.uptoten.com/ [uptoten.com]) - This is another French/English site originally made by a husband and wife for their daughter and has grown from there. It's more instructional in its activities, but has an enormous amount of content delivered in a great way. The two main characters (see the names) are voiced by the parents and are very funny.

3) Sesame Street (http://www.sesamestreet.org/ [sesamestreet.org]) - This one is a no-brainer...they have a great variety of games for different ages.

4) StarFall (http://www.starfall.com/ [starfall.com]) – A reading site that runs from letter recognition all the way to full reading. It’s got some very fun stuff in it.

5) WordWorld (http://pbskids.org/wordworld/index_flash.html [pbskids.org]) – A very rich and interactive reading site with lots of fun characters made out of letters.

Enjoy!

Re:Hmm

[godefroi]

Yes, child abduction is a concern

Not really, and especially not if there's no custody issues involving the kid.