Sunday, June 05, 2005
Look Out World! Here They Come
It's no surprise that digital information is the "way of their world" for our young people. But lately it seems as though digital users, are getting younger and younger.
AP Education Writer, BEN FELLER writes, More nursery school children going online.
"Before they can even read, almost one in four children in nursery school is learning a skill that even some adults have yet to master: using the Internet."
Coming up next...Babies reaching beyond the crib and into virtual reality.
AP Education Writer, BEN FELLER writes, More nursery school children going online.
"Before they can even read, almost one in four children in nursery school is learning a skill that even some adults have yet to master: using the Internet."
Coming up next...Babies reaching beyond the crib and into virtual reality.
# posted by Mrs.Bowllan @ 1:38 AM 
Comments:
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I have a four year old son who has been using the internet regularly (almost every day!) for about a year and a half now. He cannot read yet, but he can recognize various URL addresses (all website being parentally approved of course!) Give him a list of several of his favorite website URLs (Disney.com, Cartoon network, Nick Jr, etc) and he can tell you which is which, even though he can't read a book yet. He can change his screen background and screen saver by himself, and has even on occasion found a picture on the internet he liked and set it up as his screen background! Unreal!
I have to say, though, (and I can't remember if I mentioned this to you or not) but at Christmas time, his pre-school teacher suggested that I wait one more year before I send him to kindergarten because he couldn't write all his letters yet. I watched him in class once, and all the other kids were writing their letters pretty well for pre-Ks. But my son had a hard time controlling the pencil. Whereas all the other kids were writing by resting their arms on the table and moving their hands from the wrist to form their letters, Noah was keeping his wrist stiff and using his whole arm to control his hand writing. (A bit confusing, but if you try writing something you'll see what I mean.) Anyway, when my Dad can to vist a few months later, he commented that the "whole arm" method my son was using is actually the movement we use to control the mouse on the computer. Once Noah understood the difference between the two styles of hand control, his writing took off like a shot.
Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that as these Internet users get younger and younger, we as parents and teachers need to be aware of the new set of physical and motor skills these youngsters are using, and be aware how to help them make the transition back and forth between writing and computer use.
I have to say, though, (and I can't remember if I mentioned this to you or not) but at Christmas time, his pre-school teacher suggested that I wait one more year before I send him to kindergarten because he couldn't write all his letters yet. I watched him in class once, and all the other kids were writing their letters pretty well for pre-Ks. But my son had a hard time controlling the pencil. Whereas all the other kids were writing by resting their arms on the table and moving their hands from the wrist to form their letters, Noah was keeping his wrist stiff and using his whole arm to control his hand writing. (A bit confusing, but if you try writing something you'll see what I mean.) Anyway, when my Dad can to vist a few months later, he commented that the "whole arm" method my son was using is actually the movement we use to control the mouse on the computer. Once Noah understood the difference between the two styles of hand control, his writing took off like a shot.
Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that as these Internet users get younger and younger, we as parents and teachers need to be aware of the new set of physical and motor skills these youngsters are using, and be aware how to help them make the transition back and forth between writing and computer use.
Mary,
You raise an excellent point about the transitions between mouse and pencil. I'm now going to start researching your points because my two (ages 5 & 8) don't have the best handwriting. However, they are avid computer users (with mom & dad's guidance).
Thanks for the information you provided here. It's much appreciated.
Amy
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You raise an excellent point about the transitions between mouse and pencil. I'm now going to start researching your points because my two (ages 5 & 8) don't have the best handwriting. However, they are avid computer users (with mom & dad's guidance).
Thanks for the information you provided here. It's much appreciated.
Amy
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