Young people sometimes spend way too much time on computers. Most of this time is playing games. While games can be fun and even learning things can come from them, there are other ways to encourage your child to learn new things.
Computers are a great source of ways to learn things and to have fun. But to get to that learning goal, you need to help your child really master the beginning use of the computer first.
If your child doesn’t know the keyboard, be sure to begin by downloading a program that will teach her how to use the keyboard correctly. This takes time.
But if you set aside 10 or 15 minutes each day, she will slowly become familiar with where the different letters are. Start with her name. This will hold her interest for the longest time. Make sure it isn’t too long like Penelope. Something more like Amy is a bit easier to learn.
Next try a word she knows. Maybe something like “she” or “them” or “hello.” Again, something short but one she is likely to use.
Be sure to make up a message using the words she knows and help her type part of it on the computer. Let her type at least the ones she knows. Send a message to her dad or her friend. Be sure to add a note to the message that she is the one who is typing part of this note. When you send this to a friend, it even encourages her friend to begin to learn how to type.
Make a big deal out of the words she types. You want her to be excited about learning to type. Keep making new words a part of what she is learning. She is learning to spell as well as learning to type.
Encourage her to try to type a note to anyone. When you correct it before you mail it, be sure to keep a list of her new computer words. Talk to her grandmother about her learning skill. Then grandma can also encourage her even if grandma is not a regular computer user.
These are ways to teach your young child new things that might help her. Start young. Keep it simple. Do it regularly. Keep her involved. Show her ways to use her new skill. Let others hear about what she is learning. Be excited with her progress.
Now try your newfound skill on some other thing she is learning. You can help her learn to make her bed or feed the dog. You can do this when she helps you in the kitchen.
Be a good and consistent teacher to your eager learner. Remember: Be a teacher all day, each and every day. This opens up lots of time to learn many different skills that she will benefit from knowing.
Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which published newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents.
