“Mom, Can I Play On The Computer?” : Kids and Computer Time
“Mo-om, can I play on the computer?” How many of you hear that everyday?
How old are your kids and do you let them play on the computer? My 4 and 5 year old enjoy games and activities on the computer. Isaac, my 4 year old, would play everyday if I let him–which isn’t a bad thing per say. He would also watch tv all day if I let him. I probably would too if I weren’t responsible for taking care of the house and 3 kids–if you ever come over sometime you would probably wonder when I take care of the house (based on the tornado design of it all) but that is a whole other topic! I digress. Anyway, I don’t like to have the kids watch an hour of tv and also get sucked into playing on the computer for another hour. I’m curious about what other parents allow their kids to play on the computer and how much time you give for computer time. When do you let your kids play on the computer?
My two favorite websites for kids are PBSKids and Starfall. PBS Kids has a TON of games (educational and plain fun) based on all the kids shows that air on PBS. My boys love playing Martha Speaks, Word World (one of my own favorite cartoons), and Super Why. Curious George also has some fun videos they enjoy watching. I like how it is good, clean fun and they are learning about words, matching, science, and how to pay attention to details.
StarFall is a new discovery that I learned about from another mom friend of mine. StarFall is a website that helps kids learn how to read, learn letters, sounds etc. It is AMAZING! Isaac started on the reading games and has worked his way through several of the games one by one. In just a few weeks of playing around on the website he is reading a lot more than he was before. He has a knack for reading though–and the website has been a way to nurture his love for learning how to read. My 5 year old enjoys the games too but he usually doesn’t ask to play the “reading website”. He also hasn’t had as much time to poke around on it.
Another website I let them play on (one time) was Hasbro. Hasbro has some really fun things on it–like G.I. Joe and Spiderman cartoons. They have some matching games and puzzles too but I knew that once they discovered cartoons were just a click away it would all go downhill from there. The cartoons are so cool–but honestly, I’d rather them play educational games. What can I say, I’m one of those “let your kids be nerdy” moms. Hasbro also has a Connect Four game. I didn’t show the kids that one–I bookmarked it and play on the rare occasion when I have nothing else to do. Which is never. I can usually be found poking around on Facebook for my computer time. And there is always something else I should be doing. Again, a whole other topic- (Coming soon-What Do You Do To Escape From Your Kids?).
So, what do you think about kids and the computer? How much is too much? Should you avoid it as long as possible? What fun sites do you let your kids play on? Share with the rest of us!
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I’m another PBSKids fan. My son (3) asks for superwhy all the time. He also has the leapfrog my first computer games (favorites of the moment are diego and toystory.) Given the option he can play with those programs for over an hour. He does get tired of them after a while. I try to limit it to 1/2 hour at most at a sitting and no more then 2 sitting a day although I don’t always keep to my own beliefs. My rational is that its not bad to have games played. Especially ones which help him learn to count, or read beyond basic entertainment.
I have gotten on PBS Kids with Annabelle. She is getting smarter, but I used to sit her on my lap and she would hit the keyboard while I actually played the game with the mouse. She plays an “Elmo” game on my old computer and I plug in my broken keyboard where the space bar doesn’t work. It has songs and loves it. I like it when she pretends to type fast like her dad. For us, we are computer people and so we are all about letting her on the computer. We want to set up a kid station with an old computer eventually. Of course, she would never have a computer in her room alone as long as she lives with us.
I’ve found my son’s tastes have changed over the past 2 years. In the beginning, he LOVED Sesame Street, especially Burt’s Bottle Cap game (a great way to teach kids how to sort things, or give them an outlet if they’re driving you crazy with their desire to classify and sort EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE). Lately, he’s been more interested in things like SuperWhy and other PBS games. I used to like Nick Jr., but the newer games are not as instructional.
Also, I know I’ve mentioned this before, but he is totally into superheroes and Transformers, so he likes Hasbro’s website as well. I try to limit that one, though.
He got a Leapster for Christmas and has been enjoying the I Spy game the most, but he’ll play Wall-E too. It has taught him upper and lower case letters, which, for whatever reason, I have not been able to teach him. So bravo for that!
My son, who is almost 6, gets to play on the computer for the hour I’m getting dinner ready every day.
PBS Kids and Starfall rock!
And he also gets to use yahoo messenger to type to his grandparents and aunt.
Those are great websites! My kids also love to play on Webkinz and BuildaBearVille. They seem pretty harmless, and I like that my kids have learned to use the computer so well. I think in moderation it is a good thing!