A computer for a pre-schooler

Money_Maker_Shaker

I'm finally going to buy a new pc for myself and i'm planning on keeping the old one as a computer for my 3 year old ds. My thoughts were to take virtually all the old software off and keep it stand alone with no internet access and to put some toddler style software on it.

Has anyone any recommendations for how i can turn it more into a child's computer, can you get keyboards and mice more aimed at kids? Any software (cheap please!) you can recommend? He's never used a pc before and i'd like him to see how fun they can be and get familar with using a mouse etc before he starts school.

kindofagilr

My friends daughter learned to use a normal PC from age of 4? would it not be possible for that?

It still had the internet on but with loads of parental locks, and her mam favourited sites like cbeebies and she knew how to get to them, and plya the games on them

Sorry I cant help other than that lol

NBirdy

My 3 year old uses a mouse from Logitech that is specifically for children - it's smaller and styled to look like a ladybird I plug it into my laptop sometimes, we sit together and she practices just directing the cursor and clicking on things.

There are several desktop machines at her pre-school that she uses, which have child-specific educational software on, but I don't remember the names of any, sorry!

fernliebee

There is a great online game site that is educational, and helps them get to grips with mouse control etc

https://www.poissonrouge.com

You can buy special keyboards and mice etc, but you will probably find he will quite quickly get the hang of a normal mouse. Kid's tend to be much more technology savvy than us, they pick it up so quickly!!

4suzie

Did a quick google and found this http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/multisub/preschoo/

Don't know if it will be any good as I am shooting off now and haven't had time to look at prices and how things work but I thought it looked ok

Buttonmoons

My DD is 3 and can use a PC and my apple mac, she has a habit of jumping on it when I walk away and opening pictures of herself and admiring what she is wearing. Bonkers.

She can't type words or anything so we have to put the websites on it for her, usually cbeebies. But she manages the games fine unless it's something like weights of things, then she asks for help.

They have computers in her nursery and are encouraged to use them, which has helped.

Noglet

My kids are now 3 and 4 and have been using a standard laptop for quite a while now. We got them a small laptop mouse - not specially for kids just small coz it is aimed at those on the go who need something small to go in a laptop bag. They manage just fine. Zoom around the Cbeebies site no probs.

snugglepet20

My laptop has a program called magic desktop which came with it which you can buy from hp or get something similar elsewhere I imagine. It has a master password so when you put it on your child can only do things approved by you, it has games and painting and they can go on the internet on pre-approved sites but cannot start messing with deleting files etc. My son is 3 and he likes to press everything so it is really good for me. Also he manages fine with the laptops built-in mouse so I wouldn't worry about getting any special equipment.

elliemoo

My kids are 9, 6, and 2 all are well versed in the laptop. We have a smaller mouse and it is great for small hands. It is amazing how early they will recognise and interact with Ceebeebies on the internet. Go for it, in my opinion it is never too early to use a computer with your child.

JimmyTheWig

The only thing I would suggest is a keyboard with lowercase letters on it. RM do one. My point is that they learn lowercase letters (and the sounds they make) at school before they learn capital letters.

Agree with the others that internet access is a good thing.
Obviously they need supervision, but the earlier they can learn about these things the better prepared for the nasties they'll be.

Money_Maker_Shaker

Some really helpful stuff, thanks everyone

I think the point about the internet, especially the cbeebies site, is a good one. I need to learn about parental controls etc so might as well do that whilst he is still young enough to not get into too much trouble.

I'm going to need to buy a mouse and keyboard anyway as my new pc is just base unit and monitor so will get a kids lowercase keyboard and either a smaller mouse or one obviously designed for kids. I've seen a couple on Amazon which seem reasonably priced;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EARLY-LEARNING-KEYBOARD-LOWERCASE-PS2/dp/B002LFHN3E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1266132310&sr=1-4

Like the others said I think he'll pick this up really quickly and you're never too young to start.