We have had a computer for a year now (yes we are a little behind) anyhow, we have always known how to deal with them we just never had our own. Katelyn has amazed me in the past few months. I thought I would teach her a few things about the computer, because I figure they will be introducing them to the children by kindergarden (I don't know). So we started with her learning to point and click with the mouse, and there she went, now she..turns the computer on, turns it off when she is finished, logs on to her account (we have xp so she know her account by her little picture), gets on the internet and we have made her home page nickjr.com (so she just has to open the internet) and then she starts playing games or whatever. It truely amazes me! I just sit and watch her and I am shocked she'll play these matching (memory) games and puzzles and all kinds of stuff. So I have let her start doing that for about 30 minutes a day while her sister is going to sleep then she takes a nap. It is so awesome. Just thought I would share, this may be common, but I thought it was cool that my 3 1/2 year old can do things on the computer like that. Dh just laughs when he sees her get on the computer, she is just a little girl..lol I guess it's just how this generation is. wow

By Vicki on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 07:42 am:

It is amazing what they can do at such a young age on the computer! When dd was about that age, we started the Jump Start pre school program with her. She loved the jump start series. You might want to look into some software for her!

By Unschoolmom on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 08:54 am:

I think it's just that young kids rarely jump into things thinking that it's hard or they can't do it. Therefore, it's easy.

Another great site is Starfall.com. Lots of phonics games.

By Meltonmom on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 09:52 am:

Yep. My precious darlings just love it and it is educational, too! MM

By Bellajoe on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 03:30 pm:

My dd started with the Blues Clues preschool software. She amazed me at how she got around that program with such ease. She was probably around 3 when she started on the computer.

Our kids play on: Nick Jr., sesame street.com, Playhousedisney.com, my little pony's website, strawberry shortcake, Bigidea.com (which is Veggie Tales), really any kids show has a website. It is good for them to be exposed to it so early since they will definitely need it in life and in schools.

My dd is in kindergarten and they do have computer class every Friday. I think they just make pictures on the screen but it gets then introduced to the computer. My dd could probably teach the class by now LOL!

By Annie2 on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 07:15 pm:

Jump Start fans here, too! All my kids loved them. Most libraries carry them also.

It's amazing what kids can do even though they can't read!

By Imamommyx4 on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 07:26 pm:

DD also like PBSKIDS.ORG

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 10:48 pm:

We got a cd-rom back in 1994, when Emily was 2-1/2. She picked up being able to use a mouse, really quickly and loved the Broderbund living books! They read the story to you and then there were all kinds of hotspots to have little animations happen when you clicked on them. I was amazed at how fast she learned how to use a mouse.

When I was in college and learning how to use a mouse on my dad's computer, I was all over the screen with the stupid thing! We would make scribbles in MS Paint and try to color in the spaces. It was hard for me to get in the small spots, with the mouse! It never would be now, but it sure was then, and I was in my 20's! My kids will think that there was never a time that they didn't know how to use a mouse!

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 08:54 am:

Yes, they pick up things very quickly, don't they?! Both my kids have been playing on PCs since toddlerhood. You should see them now! Sometimes I have to ask DS (8) how to do things. LOL! The computer teacher at school pulled me aside one day and told me she has DS float around the class helping other students when they get stuck.