All About IT for Young Children

[Ivanlew]

I try not to let my daugther use too much of computer when she is small because I am afraid that it will spoil her eye sight and also computer do produce radiation which I think not very good for small kid.

But do occasionaly let her play phonic games. Now I restricted her to play computer only let her play the games as a reward but after reading all the replies, I think I should start her with typing skill.
How you teach your kid to type? Download typing software from the web and let them play the game to practise themselve?
Anybody send their kids to computer school to attend typing course? Any good computer school? What is their charges and how many lessons?

[s00s_dad]

schellen:

My DD started using the computer to play educational software from about 3+-4 yo. Once I feel that she can use a mouse without getting frustrated, I got her started but this was done ad hoc so some weeks she won't even go near a computer.


Now, she is in P1 and she has her own e-mail and Facebook accounts (under our supervision, of course) to keep in touch with relatives and the friends she meets while travelling. She regularly plays online games at Playhouse Disney and Nick, Jr. websites. She is capable of typing (though very slowly) and has stated very clearly that she will do her own typing without our help. I noticed that one skill that will help with typing is memory skill; not just for remembering where the keys are and what they do but also how to spell the words she wants to type.

I can't remember if her school has any IT lessons for them but since DH and I are proficient in computer skills/software, at least those that she will need for school, we can always teach her ourselves in the comfort of our home and at a pace she is comfortable with.

Wow you mean she can use Facebook and email on her own! That has impressed me.
Can share how you have taught her typing? Thru any software or? Thinking of starting my girl with typing first. Maybe will send her for some courses when she is in P1 next year.

[tamarind]

Dear all,

I just found this free software for kids and adults to learn how to type. Checkout this web page.

http://www.rapidtyping.com/

I tried it out and it is quite fun ! Typing is all about practice, practice, practice. There is no need to pay to go for a course. I think that the ability to type quickly is a very useful and important skill

In fact, I would not allow my kids to play any computer games, which I think is very bad for their development. I would rather they pick up typing skills, and I plan to teach them a programming language like Visual Basic or C in the future.

[schellen]

s00s_dad:

Wow you mean she can use Facebook and email on her own! That has impressed me.

Can share how you have taught her typing? Thru any software or? Thinking of starting my girl with typing first. Maybe will send her for some courses when she is in P1 next year.

She hardly visits FB nowadays cos she doesn't have much time left each day for free activity and she'll rather spend it doing other things. She's not addicted so it's okay. We created the e-mail for her and decided that FB would be good since she can keep in touch with our family who are online as well, especially those who live overseas. Once we log in for her, she can handle her FB stuff on her own, which isn't much. Bear in mind that she is actually too young for FB, by FB's policy, but we supervise her when she uses it and we set up the account to be very private using FB's privacy settings. This means that you can't see her photo, data, etc unless you are her friend, and her friends are relatives and close friends of her parents whom she knows personally and likes.

As for typing, we didn't use any typing software. She started using the keyboard to key in her name for educational games online, or to key in answers for spelling, quizzes, etc. Since she already likes to make up stories on her own and write them down, she was curious when she saw me and sashimi typing. So we just opened up an empty MS Word doc, showed her how to use a few basic functions and she played around with the fonts, colours, etc. I think she still prefers to write on paper because typing is slower for her, and paper and pencil are easily available whereas the PC is not.

[s00s_dad]

[quote]Checkout this web page.


http://www.rapidtyping.com/

I tried it out and it is quite fun ! Typing is all about practice, practice, practice. [/quote]Wow I have tried it and it is quite fun. Thanks for sharing.

[buds]

Ivanlew:

I try not to let my daugther use too much of computer when she is small because I am afraid that it will spoil her eye sight and also computer do produce radiation which I think not very good for small kid.

But do occasionaly let her play phonic games. Now I restricted her to play computer only let her play the games as a reward but after reading all the replies, I think I should start her with typing skill.
How you teach your kid to type? Download typing software from the web and let them play the game to practise themselve?
Anybody send their kids to computer school to attend typing course? Any good computer school? What is their charges and how many lessons?

Was out for lunch and saw promotion on CD-ROMs for children by
Jumpstart. They have a TYPING CD-ROMs that encourages typing
skills for children through games. Available at Popular.
NETT price : SGD $12.90
SALE price : SGD $ 8.80

[Ivanlew]

Hi,


I had actually downloaded some free typing courseware with games and try to teach her typing but she told me the game was very boring.
I will take a look at the TYPING CD at popular

Thanks for the info

[buds]

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx4M4TJ


Jump Start Typing (Ages 7-12)
Publisher : Knowledge Adventure
Packaging : Jewel Case
Requirement : Window ME/ 2000/ XP
Item Code : 8886335361205
Usual Price : S$12.90
NOW : S$11.61

How JumpStart Typing Teaches Your Child to Type
JumpStart Typing applies the award-winnign approach of the JumpStart
Learning System to teach correct typing technique. Designed specifically
for kids ages 7-10, the product combines arcade-style game play and
challenging activities with timed typing lessons and technique movies
to offer a comprehensive typing experience.

Step 1 Take a special diagnostic test to determine your base typing
ability. Exclusive technology automatically adjusts the product to
match the avilities of each individual user.

Step 2 Watch full-color movie clips that teach correct hand placement,
posture, and more.

Step 3 Participate in over 30 timed typing lessons using color-coded keys
and animated computer hands to demonstrate correct typing technique.

Step 4 Build typing proficiency in five extreme sport events, including
rock climbing, skateboarding, soccer, and snowboarding. Adjustable
difficulty levels ensure constant challenge and variety.

Help Botley Save the Competition!
Professor Sparks, along with his robot pal, Botley, has just completed
work on the galaxy's first Interplanetary Stadium for Extreme Typing.
Just as the games are ready to begin, bratty little Polly Sparks locks
the head coach of the Sparks' Dream Team in the Trophy Room. Earn
the seven power cards you need to unlock the door by practicing your
typing skills in extreme keyboarding events like snowboarding, soccer,
and rock climbing. Free the coach in time, and the team has a chance.
Hurry, Botley needs your help.

Trail Blazer
Help the snowboarder race down Mount Keys by typing the correct letter
or letter combination. Jump, zigzag, and tear through the course while
avoiding dangerous obstacles like moguls, tree stumps, and even polar
bears.

Keyboard Kicks
Compete against the Galaxy Gladiators in a game of table-top foosball.
Move your team around the field by typing letters, and try to score ten
points before your opponent does.

Keyboarding Training Center
Start your mission in the Keyboard training Center, where you can take
special diagnostic tests, participate in over 30 lessons and watch
technique movies on correct hand placement, proper posture and more.

Cliff Hanger
Help Botley climb the mega mountain. Type your way to the top while
avoiding obstacles like wall crawlers, banana peels and green slime.

Roller Racing
Skate your way through a fun-filled obstacle course while practising your
typing. Jump and duck your way through hurdles and other obstructions
while avoiding the Trickster's mischievous pranks.

The Fans Are Wild
Help cheer the team on by completing a special speed typing puzzle.
Type the correct letters and uncover secret key combinations to flip the
fan cards, then watch the stands go wild as you succesfully complete the
message.

Requirements for Newer Version
Windows Vista, XP, 2000, Pentium II 300Mhz, 128MB RAM, 25MB HD
Space, 640x480 display, 16-bit color, Windows-compatible sound card
& speakers, 12X CD-ROM Drive.

Requirements for Older Version
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, Pentium 233MHz or higher, 12x CD-ROM drive,
64MB RAM , 100MB available on hard drive, 16Bit color ,
Windows-compatible sound card, 640x480 screen resolution, mouse.

Requires Windows 95 compatibility mode, 640x480 with 256 colors to
run properly on Windows XP.

Requirements: Macintosh OS 8.6, 9.2.1, 10.1.2 , 16x CD-ROM drive,
64MB RAM, 100MB available on hard drive,16Bit color , 640x480 screen resolution, mouse.

[Ivanlew]

Just came back from my old gang gathering. One of my friends is currently taking a part time course in early child hood and she has selected an optional model which is marketing. She is writing a thesis regarding computer course for children and has set out a survey to gather some statistic.

Appreciate if you would spend 5 minutes of your time to help her to take the survey,
just 10 questions. Click the link below to take the survey. Thanks

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=6XGkbI3IS40Z0nD0ll7Fhw_3d_3d

[Ivanlew]

buds:

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx4M4TJ


Jump Start Typing (Ages 7-12)

I bought this Jump Start Typing.
The games were not very nice.

I realised that Clementi Lib has a good collection
of all the Jump Start CD and lot of good courseware CD
at Clementi lib for borrow and best of all the CD are all very updated and many of them are still selling at Popular book shop.
We can borrow them back and try out before deciding to buy one.