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Is My Child is a Geek
01/23/09
Is My Child is a Geek
Yeah!
I have read so many articles here lately about children spending to much time on the computer. But should they classify all computer time as wasted?
When I was a kid they said we were rotting our brains with TV. From the looks of some of the people I have seen that was true. I would prefer to blame the disco era for all the problems my age group has.
Ok, back to kids on the computer.
I am sure that in the muti billion dollar studies they did to see what kids do while on the computer they did not really look for anything good. It is the tendency of the Government to look for reasons to place blame on things they don’t have enough regulations over. We have seen them blame TV, video games, and now computers.
Let me just say that I think kids need to develop online skills. Look at all of us adults trying to shove all of this knowledge into our brains so, we can navigate the web effectively. Not only that but, if you ever get stuck trying to do something on your iPod, cell phone, or computer – find a kid, they can have your problem fixed in minutes.
Last night proved one point about kids on the computer. Cait loves playing with graphics more than most anything else while on the computer. She does do allot of reading to be able to write articles for her blogs (she has 2). She decided that she was tired of the skin on one of her blogs but did not want one like everybody else. Therefore she needed to make her own. Brad sat with her and showed her how to find and adjust the CSS file (I think that’s what it was), use the FTP for more than just uploading pics, how to do a back up, and how to place things in the right folders on her site. In between all of that she began re designing her blog skin. Last night she uploaded her first ‘homemade’ skin onto her Game Girl Racing blog. Be sure to go and check it out and leave her any ideas. I am hoping that she will one day be able to design me a new blog skin, which would be super handy. LOL!
So, next time read about kids rotting their brains by being on the computer – remember it may be the people doing the study that have the rotted brains.
Now, go and be thankful that your child is a geek in the making.
Sheryl Loch
ps. While your there you can check out her thoughts on the latest American Idol contestants.
7 comments
Our world is changing, and these tech-savvy kids are poised to make the most of it!
Hi Sheryl,
Cait's blog is so very cool -- I even got to learn how to write "upside-down." Yes!
As for kids on computers, when they're real young, the parents should check and see where they hang around. A good balance is needed also if you want your child to exercise and socialize.
So all in all, computer skills are as much needed today as reading and writing skills were needed in the "old days." Sort of... ;-)
Peace & Love
Mudd a.k.a. Happy Oza
xoxo
Anyway, in this day and age kids need to know their way around a computer, but they also need to know how to work without one. I remember just the other day I was at Macdonalds and the computer system that worked the registers broke down and the young lad behind the counter couldn't work out how to give me the right change. Seriously, kids still need to know the three R's
I think you are right that kids we see today playing games and learning computer skills will be developing some great things in the near future.
You have 2 in your house that will be waiting to take the computer world over. You may be like me & have to ask your kids for help when you get stuck. LOL!
I agree that kids should have a balance as with anything. It just seems that the internet can open up worlds to a child that I would have never imagined. Kids can watch live African cams, see art works from around the globe, and read books at the push of a button.
I think one of the neatest is that Cait (with permission) has gotten to talk to our friends in Israel, Australia...This has given her a chance to ask questions about their countries, family life, even religion. To me that is a great step towards learning to be accepting of differences in others.
Heck, she can even get a giggle from seeing a video about talking to birds made by a happy go lucky girl in the North. LOL!
I have been in the same store and been held up because they could not count change. I just wanted to jump in there and do myself.
There are things that they do need to learn while Un-Plugged!
Speaking to people is another thing that needs to be done on & off line. I do not always understand text lingo. That may fall into the category of social etiquette. Which some young people do not have.
Many homeschool parents are mixing on & off line into the daily routines. I think that we will see some great things out of kids in the near future.
But there should be the limit to every thing. One can't become scholar just by surfing...