Monday, June 2, 2003		Feature

PARENTS, administrators and teachers play a crucial role in encouraging the use of computers among children. The question is how (to use), when (to use) and what (computer experiences are appropriate).

Research has been done to understand how information technology affects children of different age groups. Children, however, differ in their development and maturity. Therefore, elders should first consider their own child’s emotional development and abilities before recommending the use of PC. Common sense, combined with advice from child development experts, suggests some age appropriate guidelines:

For toddlers between two and three years of age, computers do not play a major role.

Computer use with the help of parents begins at the age of four in the form of games and educational products. Kindergartens, in many countries are using Apple Macintosh computers loaded with early childhood software to teach counting alphabets and colours, classify objects, spot patterns, identify shapes and much more. Older children can even make use of online sections, especially designed for children, like www.kids.gov

The potential of online services is fully experienced and appreciated by children between the age of eight and 11 as they begin to use online encyclopedia, download pictures and graphics for school reports.

For pre-teens and early teenagers sophisticated research resources are available in the form of magazines, newspapers, original letters and archives from around the globe.

Those in their late teens can receive information regarding colleges, universities, and job opportunities and prepare themselves for the future challenges.

Some sites like www.kinderpark.com, www.ala.org/parents, www.baby-place.com and

www.net.gurus.com have been developed for all round development of kids of all ages.