I come from a time when parents who truly wanted to teach their children a technical skill, such as sewing or working on car engines, taught their children with the same tools that they, themselves, used. No dumbing down, or sizing down, of items that would be needed to learn the skill. While many of my little friends had child-sized “toy” sewing machines, I had a full-blown Singer on my work table. I was taught the basics, how to be safe, and how to use the device. I graduated from basic sewing (straight lines) to more complex projects, and by the time I was a teenager, I could make clothing as well as my grandmother and mother, who taught me to sew. In their minds, a “toy” child-sized sewing machine was just a waste of time.
I was also quite the car monkey with my dad. That might sound strange coming from a woman, but my dad was a God and spending time with him working on cars meant I got to spend more time with him. I was 12 when I helped him rebuild the engine in our VW Bug in the early 70’s. My dad appreciated and was annoyed by my help, but he was a patient teacher, and I used the same tools he did, doing the same jobs he was doing, albeit with a bit less strength than him. He never dumbed down what he was teaching me, and didn’t spend time digging for “child-sized” tools for me; whatever he was using was good enough for me.
I have taken this same attitude with my kids as they’ve grown up, too. No half-size tools for them. Both of my daughters sew on full-sized sewing machines, and all of my kids work on full-sized computers. Yes, even the 7 year old. To me, there is no point in going child-sized for a device that they will likely be using in some form or another for the rest of their lives.
Today, Disney and Asus announced they have partnered to provide Netbooks for children. The Disney-fied netbook, dubbed the “Netpal,” includes a user interface over the top of the XP operating system that allows a parent to pare down what the child has access to, and gives them a more “child friendly” experience. This UI includes a Disney widget that gives them quick access to Radio Disney, the Disney website, and locked down email. Oh yes, and it comes in two pretty colors, pink with flowers, and blue with Mickey Mouse ear shapes.
What is the point of this, other than to part parents with hard-earned cash? (The Netpal will retail for about $350). In my mind, computer safety, and useful skills, should be taught to our children from day one, and unsupervised computer use should be off the table entirely. It is ludicrous to me to give a child a toy, when a real tool will give them long-term advantages. Our children are growing up into a world where computer knowledge about a basic level will likely be a requirement of their job. The more they understand, and know how to do, the better they will be equipped for the real world, which comes soon enough.
Yeah, it’s cute. It’s a pretty color. It will presumably keep your child “safe” online. But long term, what have you really done for your child by buying toy-sized technology? If you’re going to spend the money, do the right thing and get a full-size, full-blown computer. If you want to cute it up for your younger ones, get them a kid-themed keyboard. My 7 year old swears by her Barbie keyboard, with the sparkly rhinestones and shiny pink keys, with matching rhinestone mouse. But she will know how to use a computer, because she is being raised with a real computer, not a toy with no long-term advantages.
This is a great post. I like you idea that children need to know how to use the real thing, not a toy. And the Internet is not a toy. It is as real an environment for children as any playground, classroom, or home setting.
For any parents out there wondering how they can teach their children real Internet skills, like how to build a firewall, etc., as well as letting them participate in the world wide web learn and communicate with friends:
woogi world is a great place to start.
and it’s free.