Developmental Learning? Huh?

It wasn't gonna get seen/answered there.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Jump Start, MathBlasters, etc. are good - we have used them, but not with a 2-year-old. You are better of buying some good preschool type books, puzzles, or wooden blocks, Brio train sets, etc. - save the software for later. IMHO anyway -
Andrea

I think you could get them for him but with the idea of saving them for when he is a little older. I agree with Andrea in that he might still be a little young for that type of learning tool. They are definitely great and engage children in an educational way! But books and games can do that as well.

*~* GLITTERY.HOMEMAKER *~*

I'm a totally bad mommy. I've let my children have TV since day 1. I've always censored what they watched, keeping it to Disney Channel and PBS Kids (Sprout), since these generally have no commercials selling things like toys or sugary cereals and snacks. My not yet 2 year old totally loves Thomas the Train, both on TV and with the toys. That same child has now "learned" (thru another sibling) that we have a Thomas game for the computer and now begs for it, about to drive me nuts! Of course, he can't work it by himself yet, but with an older sibling or myself, he enjoys watching.

Look and see what's available. That Jump Start series is very good. I have the JumpStart Toddlers for my oldest and she really learned how to use the computer with it, along with a Fisher-Price Farm software.

Computer games are great for a child to sit on a parents lap and watch/do. Not only are they learning and being entertained, but snuggle time on parent's lap is quality time as well.

Of course, nothing takes the place of books, puzzles, and one on one time. But in today's day and age, learning to use a computer is a very useful skill.

Case in point: my 10 year old will be doing a PowerPoint presentation in school this year, 5th grade. She and my 8 year old are also learning to type, using a software program with SpongeBob (I can't stand SpongeBob, but they love him. What can ya do? LOL!)

OK, to me, the purpose of computer games is basically to keep the kids busy for a bit while I am doing something else. Which means that I don't do computer games for 2 years olds, since I don't want them using my computer in my absence! And I really don't want them bugging me to use the computer once I've got them interested!

(2 is a tough age -- 2 was when my kids would about lose their minds if they had been watching TV and then I turned it off, whereas now (for the most part!) when I say its time to be done, I get grumbles but compliance. )

I do let my 4yo use the computer, just PBS kids right now. I may dig out the old Jump Start preschool discs and see if they are compatible with our newer computers.

Shaun
www.redseahomeschool.wordpress.com

Two year olds need to learn experientially, not passively. Television and PC games are passive/observational activities. While I'm not completely anti-TV or PC, I don't think you need to introduce children to academic activities in those mediums until elementary school age at the earliest. Right now a two year old is laying down the foundation for learning. Moving three dimensional objects in space. Pouring or dumping. Stacking up and knocking down. Developmentally, I think PC learning games are innappropriate for pre school. By the age of six or seven is soon enough to introduce the computer. If he's anything like the kids I know, it'll be all his folks can do to keep him OFF the computer once he's a teenager, let him have trucks, sand, building blocks, and bouncing balls at this age.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Have nothing else to add at the moment.

Thank you.

Jessica, Hippie Feminist, Trying to Go Organic, No Circ, Vaccinations, Learning, Researching (All these will be used now and in Future as well)