ok so i want to engage my son get him learning more. of course i need to read with him but need something techie jus because he sees me on my laptop so often and he is keen to learn. yes he is 2 on the way to 3

now i thought i might buy this ClickStart My First Computer - LeapFrog

or
Official PlayStation website: PlayStation 2, PS2 only because i know he would love singstar and he likes having a go on the computer games, my friends eldest has been teaching him too

or when i get my new desktop pc just buy age appropriate games for him

what do you think?
just asking your opinion thats all
chances are whatever is bought the whole family can use too or help him use

How about you buy a cheap secondhand pc and let him learn with that (or use your lap top)


There are lots of safe sites with programmes for his age group particularly school sites and even the main TV channels.

At an even younger age I allowed my kids to use the family pc (it was secondhand so I had no worries about damage) But it paid off because even on my daughters introduction day at nursery the teachers picked up how confident she was with the school pc a confidence that as stayed with them throughout IT education.

I recall in year 2 my son's school report for IT stated his ability was above average and confident. His target was to improve his typing speed.

PC's are replaceable objects, I really don't understand why parents get so hung up about proctecting them from their children. One of the reason my home is always full of kids using my pc is not because their households dont own one, but because their parents keep them locked way like some valuble object.

I would recommend the old screens and keyboards, they are safer and stronger, less chance of them being damaged if knocked.

And checkout some of the programmes on CBB's and the like...they include maths, reading ect geared for pre-school children.

For what you would pay for the likes of leap frog, my first computer ect you could buy a secondhand pc that would last longer and be of more use.

http://http://www.bgfl.org/ See Foundation Stage.

This is a Birmingham City Council Site but I'm sure your own local council as something similar.

BBC*-*CBeebies*-*Home

There is a site the schools use, that parents can access but I can't remember what it was called. I will ask my daughter when she returns.

::: EducationCity.com ::: Interactive Education :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Once on the site click on enter and than Activities. From there you will be given various subjects to click on [Literacy, Maths, Science and three European languages)

If you click on a subject you will be given the option of, Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 and 2.

Nursery Maths for example will give your child the option of various nursery rhymes which will introduce your child to Shapes, Space, Measures, counting and recognising numbers. Plus early experience of using pc controls.

It is a useful site and although I'm not sure if it is used nationally I know it is widely used in schools here in Birmingham.

Not sure if it is all free, I recall subscribing to the site

Man just get a desktop computer and done the argument. By the time he is 3 he will know how to log on and log off the computer. And the rest. Thees youths dont ramp. Personally I wouldnt even entertain a play station etc at that age. A desktop is much more versatile.

ok looks like i will get a new desktop pc

what else do i need to know

Microsoft Office would be a nice start.

Get him started on Vista - XP is all nice and cool but chances are when the nipper grows up XP will be a thing of the past - Dont give him nothing too taxing otherwise he'll get bored and just start playing games on the DL. Let him roam around through the C drive and play the occational Type2Learn games. Always have a restore disk just incase he manages to wipe the operating system, though.


I work in a school as an IT techician - It suprised me how much the year 7's knew about computers - put alot of so called IT teachers to shame.

Get a spare keyboard and mouse (they didn't design them with little ones in mind)

I still go through loads.

Oh and I do recommend a camera...My children made some brilliantly creative films in the early days (sadly lost them all) But they can develop quite a few skills with a camera, whilst being creative and having fun.