Computers and babies....?

4 months old

We did do something that, unbeknownst to us, was fairly frowned upon but being computer nerds, we never thought anything of it at the time. When Sophia and I were in the computer room and her father was on his computer, she would want to get up to be with him. Now you may ask - how does a child that age show you that she wants to join her father? Well she just did and I guess that might have been an indication there were perceptions there that wouldn't ordinarily be there in a child that age but we literally didn't think about it then. She was our first child so we didn't have anything to compare it to. I was the oldest of four and I do remember thinking that it was a little odd and I couldn't seem to remember my brothers and sisters doing things like that. But then I put it down to being a proud mother - bordering on loopy perhaps. I did that for a long time because her abilities frightened me for the silliest reasons.

So every time she wanted to get to be up there with her father, he would start up a program called Sunshine Alphabet. This was one of the ways that taught her the alphabet. My husband has always said, 'dumb programs make dumb minds' so where we could, any exposure Sophia had to TV or computers was either educational or taught a good sense of ethics and behaviour. We use our computers everyday - for play and work and as a result Sophia was computer literate by the time she was three.

Current studies on the impact of computers and toddlers suggest that it's a bad bad thing because it limits their creativity. We have to disagree with that one. At four Sophia's mind is exploring all it can while making artwork and art projects just as creatively as the next child. Sometimes both at the same time. She does come up with some pretty odd names for her work though, I have to say - 'a cow called hydrolapidy' for example! I think it matters hugely what sort of programs you allow your children to play with. Interactive programs that encourage them to think and problem solve are invaluable. And giving them the opportunity to play in a creative manner makes a difference too. We get creative at home with creative play ALOT. Sophia has also had a couple of days at a playcentre or kindergarten from the age of three specifically so she could take advantage of the creative programs for toddlers and opportunities for social interaction.