6 Tips for Introducing Laptops to Children

Most likely, your parents did not have to educate your child on how to use a laptop properly and independently. And, if they did, you were most likely not a toddler at the time. Everything has changed. According to Common Sense Media, half of all 2- to 4-year-olds (53 percent) have used a computer. If you’re a parent or guardian considering introducing your child to technology, here are a few pointers to get you started:

1. Establish strict ground rules. Depending on your child’s age, you might need to explain that the laptop is not a toy. From there, you should create ground rules for when and how your child will use the gadget. Consider designating a certain section of your home as a devoted work location (e.g., the desk in the family room or the kitchen table). Decide if you want an adult in the room or nearby while your youngster uses the laptop. You may also want to establish limits on how long your child may use the computer and what they can and cannot do online.

2. Explain how to properly care for a laptop. This one is difficult. We’ve all eaten at our desks or read emails while sipping coffee, but it’s a good idea to teach your kids to keep food and drink away from the laptop at all times. Explain that the mouse, keyboard, and other attachments are delicate gadgets that should be handled with care. Explain how dropping a laptop or spilling food or beverages on the keyboard might cause lasting harm to the device.

3. Experiment with the trackpad or mouse. Using a trackpad often necessitates the use of fine motor skills and coordination. If your child is young, you should consider purchasing a mouse gadget. If you do, make sure it fits comfortably in your child’s hand. They will have difficulties browsing menus and executing basic chores if they are physically unable to grip or operate a mouse. Whether you use a trackpad or a mouse, keep in mind that you can always modify the device’s speed and sensitivity via your laptop’s control panel.

4. Choose applications that are suited for your age group. Young children whose fine motor skills are still developing may be unable to utilize programs that need them to click on extremely small things. They may also have difficulty scrolling. When you look at the DreamBox interface, you’ll see that the learning environment has huge, bright pictures that are simple to click.

5. Bookmark commonly visited URLs: Bookmarks are an excellent method to preserve and organize certain websites and programs so that your child can simply return to them. Sit with your child and bookmark the URLs you believe they will use the most. When you’re finished, show them where to look for the bookmarks and which websites to click on. Because youngsters can easily recognize programs by their symbols, show out where they appear in the URL.

6. Show them how to use programs and log in. You may need to set up extremely young kids, but you should be able to let them learn freely without much support. Until your youngster is familiar with the procedure, have a numbered set of login instructions available.