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Children & Computers

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
At what age do you feel it's safe for your child to use the computer and if they already do, what programs or games do they play?

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My boy is 3 in feb and is starting to use the computer, tbh it is not a question about what age as younger childrens computer usage should be monitored. but in the sense of unsuperviced usage it is a tough call, when he is emotionally mature I suppose.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    depends on the child. My 3 and 2 year old dont use one yet, but my 9 year old has a computer, has lots of games and occasionally uses the internet
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I started using a computer about as soon as we got a good one ... I guess I was 5 or so. Of course, computers are a little fancier now. :razz:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was about 8 when we got our first computer, a Commodore C64 lol. Then a NES a little while after they came out.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My half sister is 3, nearly 4, and she has started to play on cbeebies games and stuff with someone helping her. She also has a toy computer that she likes more! At her pre-school they have began to teach them to use a mouse, and type (on a word kinda thing)

    I am 12, and have been using computers ever since I can remember. But probably unsupervised for 2 years ish... My mum does still check every now and then I think, because I did some stupid things in about 2008. I have only just been allowed MSN, and am not allowed on social networking sites.
    Xx
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have only just been allowed MSN, and am not allowed on social networking sites.
    Xx




    I'm forever dealing with youngsters and the after effects of facebook/bebo/msn bullying. The sooner they ban them or make you use a credit card for age verification the better. GARGH.

    *rant over*
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm so glad I don't have that problem.... Being 18 rockS! :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whowhere wrote: »
    I'm forever dealing with youngsters and the after effects of facebook/bebo/msn bullying. The sooner they ban them or make you use a credit card for age verification the better. GARGH.

    *rant over*

    I agree you know!! Joining them has never really intrested me, because I've had loads of friends who get bullied.
    Xx
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    As with Whowhere, my first computer was 80s (BBC Micro), again aged 8, and it was for games. For gaming, age doesn't matter a lot. A better question for this topic is - When should children start to get online? Take deviantART on the web for example, and you will find that a lot of the trolls are early teens, so I think that mid teens is a better bet for a starting age for the www. For instant chat such as MSN, I think it's okay as long as the contacts are other school friends. Then restrict MSN it so that internet groomers don't take advantage.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    James is 5 and uses one at home, he uses one at school.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Niamh is almost 6 months and has already sent an email.

    Okay mum filled in the address and the content was gibberish.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Joined my first forum at 13 and did okay ... didn't join anything where you display a name or personal info until I was 17, 18.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whowhere wrote: »
    f facebook/bebo/msn bullying. The sooner they ban them

    Got to love our police, ever willing to protect our freedoms.

    Only have internet access in public parts of the house.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Big Gay wrote: »
    Got to love our police, ever willing to protect our freedoms.

    Only have internet access in public parts of the house.
    then how is a teenager suppose to whack off to porn?

    In all seriousness I got online at age 8/9 with good old 12.5kb dial up jobbie, loadsa fun :) but then again I had built a PC by age 7 as well..

    Theo n Shrimp will be the same.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    we got a computer when I was about 8 and got the internet in about 2003 maybe? but for ages (until I was about 17) I had retarded parental controls on. Honestly they were crap. I couldn't even use google for school stuff and to get on myspace involved going a roundabout way- I think I had to view a bands profile then when I tried to comment I had to log in then go to my home page as going straight there was "locked". In my opinion parental controls makes you more cunning... possibly not a good thing! And I was only allowed an hour max a day (so I didn't get square-eyes nb. I already wore glasses by then!)
    But yeah the age your child goes on the computer is irrelevant. What is relevant is the amount of time you let them have and what you let them do.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    By finding his Dad's porn fileshare, of course.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Parental controls are worthless, and always wil be
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    oh god I hope not Big Gay, mines pure sick :P LOL
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    you vet the one he can find, silly
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    dude, if I vetted mine they'd be the opening title and closing credits left.. lol
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Title them, naked pics of loz, me loz home sex video. Bet that will keep the kids away!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    my name wrote: »
    Title them, naked pics of loz, me loz home sex video. Bet that will keep the kids away!

    haha, either that or he burns and sells copies LOL
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Ummm.... that IS his porn collection. (yeah, he was using IE, so I had a quick peek)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    pr0n + IE?

    *disbelief*
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My son is 5 and daughter is 8... i am going to buy them their own computer to share.. i think it would be great for them to start learning the basics. My friend recommended me to sign them up to Fantage.com - it's some sort of online virtual world for children 7-14.. the graphics look cool... i'll have to check it out..
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Big Gay wrote: »
    Parental controls are worthless, and always wil be
    I dont think they useless, problem is most of people dont know who to use them properly.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It is better to keep the computer used by your kids without internet connection. Thus they will use only the software and games you install. Of course this is very ideal case because they can have data on dvd, usb drive, etc. but this is much more difficult.

    Back to rosyrainbow's question about the proper age to introduce a computer to your children. I would say you can start at any (technically possible :) ) age if you follow these two simple rules:

    - give them ONLY access to games and programs that are suitable for his age
    - limit the time

    Here are some more recommendations : Kids age vs computers
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't know, in a weird world where I'd had kids I don't think I'd want them to waste too much time on the computer. I do spends loads of time on the computer but I think its a bit wasted if you're not using it as a tool for something else, just browsing the internet for the sake of browsing the internet is a bit pointless. I'd want them to spend their time on other stuff and exercise more I think, but I'd want them to be handy with network settings and stuff though :p I'd be worried about who they were being influenced by online quite alot. I wouldn't monitor their usage after they started high school, but I would discourage social networking.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i discourage social networking as well.. they do not need to be doing that at a young age.. i don't want them to be attached to the computer either.. i will probably limit their time to an hour a day if they chose to use the computer or not..
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