Computer in room at Pre-K - is this common?

jetgrrrl · September 2013

So both DS's started a new day care yesterday and DS1 has moved up to Pre-K. This new day care has a computer in a pretty prominent location (by the entrance to the classroom) and not surprisingly it attracts a lot of attention. DS got on it as I was leaving this morning because another kid vacated it. We've been pretty anti-screen time and we the DS's really don't watch tv except at my parents' house (which is three hours away so we only visit occasionally), we don't have an iPad and don't let them use our iPhones. We only use the computer for Skyping with family. That may seem insane to some but frankly, I don't know when we'd cram in the time between racing out the door in the morning and getting dinner/getting to bed at night! I also hate all the marketing that goes on around kids' programing for television and computers. So, I'm a little bit concerned about how much the computer is used in class and what the programming is. Obviously I can just talk to the teacher or director and ask, but I'm curious as to whether it's common to have a computer in the pre-K classroom? Does yours have one?

jf198400 · September 2013

My DDs class starts doing computer time at age 3. I think this is a good thing. Being computer literate is a critical skill for kids today. I would ask the teacher how they use the computer. If they are watching tv shows on it, not okay. If they are playing educational games good. Your child will be using the computer next year in kindergarten, so I don't see the harm in him getting used to it now.

ebp913 · September 2013

I totally agree that your child is absolutely going to have to know how to use a computer and tablet to be successful in school. My kids don't watch TV but we use a Kindle within reason. I truly think is helps DD learn and honestly, it wouldn't surprise my if every kid is getting a tablet when she starts kindergarten so I'm glad she's computer literate. TBH, I think you may only be hurting your child from not letting them learn this technology that many of their peers will know how to use.

cecilyandgautam · September 2013

I think it's pretty common. Right now my DD is in an in-home but I've been looking into preschools for when she's older and they all advertise their computers and tablets in the classroom and there doesn't seem to be a designated "screen time" hour during the day - it's available all day. Ug, I do not like it and I don't see how this is a plus to brag about in your promotional materials. Seriously. We don't have a ton of options in my area though, so I may need to make my begrudging peace with it. I've heard of something called Waldorf schools, an alternative to Montessori, and apparently they are anti-screen time in class but I think they're expensive.

SoMoNY · September 2013

My son got his own iPad mini last Nov, he turned 3 in Feb.

He loves it and is really good with it. The ABC flashcard games are great, he repeats after the iPad and can do his ABCs and count to 20.

Other flashcard games help with vocabulary, colors, etc.

His preschool doesn't have a computer but they have a few iPads they all share.

*sparky* · September 2013

jf198400 said:

My DDs class starts doing computer time at age 3. I think this is a good thing. Being computer literate is a critical skill for kids today. I would ask the teacher how they use the computer. If they are watching tv shows on it, not okay. If they are playing educational games good. Your child will be using the computer next year in kindergarten, so I don't see the harm in him getting used to it now.

DS's school starts w/computer time in preschool as well. It is an essential skill that they will need to have so I see no harm in starting young, as long as they are using it for educational purposes. As the PP wrote, find out what they are doing on the computers and whether the internet access is restricted and/or the childrens' activities on the computer are monitored.

Since Kindergarten, at least some of DS's homework every week has to be done on the computer - there are certain links the teacher will provide and the students have to complete assigned lessons.

We pulled DS out of a summer camp where the teemage counselors were giving the kids free reign to sit on the computer and watch all sorts of You Tube videos, so I agree that not all computer time is beneficial, but I don't think that sheltering your children from it 100% will help them either.

itsmevkb · September 2013

Yes, every classroom, including the K3 rooms have a computer in them and then all the kids also go to a computer lab. My son takes reading tests on an iPad. We also let them use our phones at home in addition to them having a Leapster. They play educational apps and some not so educational ones but that's just the way of the world today.

FemShep · September 2013

DD's school starts using computers at 2. At 6, she made me a Happy Birthday powerpoint, with pictures and animations.

Now that she's 8, about 1/3 of her assignments can be done on computer, which I love, and they have dedicated computer classes. I think computer literacy is absolutely critical, and I'm really glad they feature the topic at school.

NicoleWI · September 2013

I think it's common. I agree with you, although my kids do get some screen time at home. We watch some kid shows and videos online. Nevertheless, I'd rather they do other things/learn other ways at that age during "school" time, and have official computer usage when they get a little older. But, as you can see, I'm definitely in the minority here.

LoCarb · September 2013

Common. Our DC has them in each class toddlers and up. Computer time is included in the curriculum and the school offers additional lessons through abcmouse.com. Both of my kids own an iPad. I don't agree with the 2 yo needing one but their dad bought it; no money from my pocket.

The school computers are touch screen. We need to evolve with technology. My mom still waits on the phone for customer service when the computer can offer the same help (ie: ordering from Target). Computers are going to touch screen v mouse. When my kids are older there will probably be holograms instead of cell phones.

2-Step · September 2013

Our preschool starts computer time at age 3. I think it is very important for kids to learn how to use computers and technology. I feel it is as relevant as learning how to write, read and do math. I wouldn't want my kids surfing the internet, but they can play educational games.

My mom works in an elementary school and she has told me that she sees a lot of parents that severely limit computer learning because they lump all screen time together as bad, and those kids are often actually behind the rest of the class. Second graders are bringing work for projects on jump drives, while other kids have never even seen a jump drive.

She said it can create a huge gap for teachers when they are trying to implement technology-driven curriculum in the classroom and some kids are building their own websites while others don't even know how to turn on a computer. It's not the same as TV, because a kid can get by just find in school without operating a TV or video game. Computers have become a basic tool of education and I think its our job to teach them how to responsibly use them from an early age.

MoreThanABride · September 2013

Our daycare has 1 or 2 computers in every classroom from preschool (3 year olds) and up.

We don't use computers with the kids at home because we don't make time for it.

shannm · September 2013

Yes, my son was in a preK room around age 3 that had a computer. Having said that, his other preK class, did not. And I don't think that there is one in his kindergarten classroom but he does have access to the library computers.

Talk to the teachers and see what he has access to and how they are monitored and limited.

IMO, it is good for him to learn to be comfortable with a screen, keyboard, and mouse (in small doses obviously). It is a huge part of how our society functions.

laurakaz13 · September 2013

In this day and age, I will encourage my DD to know how to use a computer. This is a critical skill for the future. In fact, she is 2 and already understands how to play around with my iPad. She doesn't get screen time much, but I do think it's very important for kids to know this.

In our center, the pre-K kids use computers once a day, according to the curriculum.

vlong4 · September 2013

My daughter's school (she's PreK) has a computer lab, each room has four computers and teachers use smart boards (a big electronic board instead of a black board that computer programs, etc... Are loaded onto). It's important for kids to have access to technology and have it integrated into every day life. How can we expect them to function in older grades where teachers expect assignments to be uploaded into programs such as Dropbox? It's an essential learning tool for future success. I limit tv time and iPad time at home too.

Dochas · September 2013

These responses are interesting. No preschool I looked at had computers in the classrooms.

mommymegan831 · September 2013

DD just switched schools and I don't think she has a computer, but at her other school she did. You realize being computer literate is a very important life skill right? I'm sure they won't be playing shooting games on it.

hst · September 2013

My daughter's preschool does not have computers and I would not want them to. Small children do not need to know how to use computers! It is absolutely not correlated with success in school. I allow my daughter to use my iPad but I do not want her using one at preschool, there is so much research against it, I'm shocked at how many of you responded that it was in the classrooms.

hst · September 2013

I want to add that I'm a teacher, and I'm still horrified that people think pre-k children need to be computer literate. Trust me your kid will pick it up before they need to get a job.

erbear · September 2013

DD1 (4.5 y/o) is shown things on her teacher's computer sometimes (they watched a youtube video on Friday of eagles catching salmon). I'm fine with this. I've never seen a computer in DD2 (2.5 y/o)'s classroom.

I would not be ok with non-supervised, non curricular computer time for kids that young.

MNgirl326 · September 2013

meh, if they are using it as a choice time center where they can do shapes, letter activities and listen to stories, i'm fine with it. I'm sure they have some sort of rotation where the kid gets it for a little bit and then the next kid gets a turn, so the time on there isn't even that much

I probably wouldn't worry about, but i'm pretty easy going.

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