What could be the best way to introduce the world of computers to a kid, let’s say of 6 years old, so that he learns to handle it like a toy and stops dreading it like some esoteric, arcane and recondite machine from some eldritch, enigmatic, cryptic and phantasmal world ?
We started with Win10 e-waste, and started with Ubuntu Mate. Java Minecraft was the trick. Got them motivated, reading, doing math. Then wanting to install mods taught them about the filesystem and such. Age 4 and 6, they both got on board and are now top tier computer users. Giving them access to gimp, inkscape, and tinkercad got them using it for art and 3d modelling to get involved in the 3d printer, and they use blockbench to make custom models…which you configure with json in a resource pack. They’re now 9 and 11 and are motivated to play on computers.
Heheh that was my oldest a couple years ago. He’s 9 now but I let him use one of my laptops when he was like 7 to play Minecraft, and it eventually became “his” laptop.
He’s also using Tumbleweed.
He learned how to do all sorts of Minecraft console commands mostly “on his own” (as in, without my guidance, he saw some of the stuff streamers were doing and I explained what it was printed out a little cheat sheet for him and set him off on his own to mess with it. I haven’t taught him any Linux shell (yet), but he is getting pretty good at typing and keyboard shortcuts.
I don’t much care for the streamers. Especially a lot of the Minecraft streamers that pander to kids (cough Mikey and JJ). I don’t allow them in the house anymore. But I’m glad he got some inspiration out of it at least.
I dont know much about how family friendly they are (id say mostly) but mumbo jumbo, grian, and a large number of the people who make up the Hermitcraft are all pretty wholesome, entertaining, some of them are wizards with Redstone, others for aesthetic builds.
Minecraft (Java) with Mods
To me the main thing is to relate to a computer as a programmable device, not just a shiny box with pictures and videos. To that end, it might be more effective to have the computer be in command line mode rather than it just being a conduit to youtube.
I started on an apple II at a friend’s house. BASIC was built right in to the command line. Our family ended up with a TRS-80 compatible which also had BASIC. Back then everything you needed to know was in the TRS-80 basic manual. I spent hours and hours making games on it.
Perhaps something like LOGO? Some simple command line environment where the knowledge required is small, and there are easily reachable payoffs for making loops and so forth.
Reminds me of this post, I wanted to do something like this when I have a kid, but it turns out not all children are the same, who would have thought, and mine isn’t interested in how things work.
https://changelog.complete.org/archives/1448-introducing-the-command-line-at-3-years
Well I got my first PC when I was 5 (2005), and I just learnt to use the PC by myself (because my parents didn’t understand it) over several years.
When I will eventually have a child, these would be my steps to encourage them to use a PC:
- Tell them that they can play paid games for free and show them how to do it
- Give general internet usage tips
- Convince them that a PC worths way more than a console, because you can play way more games on it, and you can also do a bunch more things with it
I don’t think a 5 year old will understand a PC’s usefullnes for sure, but their receptors will definitely be turned on after hearing FREE GAMES.
6 years old is a bit young because at that age, they need a reason to engage with anything.
Games might be a place to start, but a kid will think “tablet is easier”. Same with music or videos.
Art is another place to start, but even then, why computers?
You need to wait until they have an idea or goal they want to accomplish, then maybe use it as an illustrative tool. In most cases for kids though, a PC is unnecessary with phones and tablets being so prevalent with an easier to grasp UI/UX.
That’s why I think this is such a good question. How can we incorporate (linux) computers more in the digital literacy of children so they don’t fall victim to the golden cages of android and ios before they develop the maturity to understand what a handicap it is.
Games might be a place to start, but a kid will think “tablet is easier”.
If you play RTS games it’s really hard to do it without mouse and keyboard, so that’s a point for a desktop or laptop
I mean I installed commodore os vision recently and I was like " I would have lost my mind if id had this at 6, there is so much you can do, with no internet!!" I got into computers at 5, and had no internet until probably 15 ish.
So id give a kid a pc with commodore os on it. It comes pre-installed with programming apps and games and drawing programs for kids too. Its awesome.
You aren’t your children though. They experience better technology literally all the time.
Sure but “better” is subjective. Newer, sure. A ps5 game isnt inherently more fun than an n64 game. Im not a fan of new=good.
Also, it should be noted phones and tablets purely exist to consume, consume, consume. They’re not for creation; a computer is.
I think any kid interested in learning would find all aspects of computing cool, not just an ipad. Just like how I can have fun on a 2600, and also my gaming pc. Its all interesting and fun. I think kids just aren’t exposed to anything other than the shiny new ad filled dlc ridden consoles that get pushed now. There’s so much out there especially if you get into custom handhelds or ras pi etc.
It is very much subjective. Are you serious?
If you grew up with keyboards and mice, that has all been removed as a barrier to interaction with computers.
You’re insane if you think your old way of doing things is somehow “better” or meaningful.
I bet you’re also trying to force your kids to listen to YOUR music and tell them why it’s better then their choices, right??
Grow up.
My point is, you seem to think that the new way is better, with everything touchscreen. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s better. People thought Teflon and cartridge razors were better too. Turns out they were just brainwashed.
I’m saying KIDS do. Especially younger kids. Clearly started in my original comment.
Kids think whatever they’re exposed to.
Neither of my kids use their tablets anymore after having/getting access to a laptop. They were a little confused, at first, since the town uses touchscreen Chromebooks for K-1, but they got used to it, since none of my laptops have a touchscreen. Now they view touchscreens as being for babies. Like that kid in BTTF2 with the lightgun…“You mean you have to use your hands?”
I got mine a comic book which introduces making simple games in mit scratch. The kid loved the comic, read it multiple times. We sat together and entered the game, had a lot of fun changing the characters, and never did that again (I’m not pushing). The computer is still a boring thing dad does for work.
It doesn’t help that I can’t explain what I’m doing on my computer on the few times the kid bothers to ask. I’m writing a program that transforms this wall of text into that spreadsheet 🥱
Care to name the comic? My kid likes going onto scratch and checking out other people’s stuff, and made a few little animations himself…but the whole thing is a bit overwhelming at first.
https://edukomiks.pl/ not sure if it’s translated to other languages
I think kids find ways to play and tinker with stuff. I’d give them an office suite to practice writing letters or advertisements or whatever they come up with, something to draw… maybe not Gimp because that’s not easy to use… I’ve seen people give their kids an instant messenger which connects to their dad/mom so they’re incentivised to type something. And then of course we have games. From Supertux, PlanetPenguin Racer, Tuxkart to commercial games. There are some kids games in the repos. Kartoffelknülch, drawing programs. Programming languages to learn coding with puzzle pieces and blocks or animate Turtles. There are educational games, at least my local library has some and I played some as a kid. But maybe at least try to balance the gaming. There’s so much more interesting stuff in computers. And then of course you could put some content into some directories, I think unrestricted internet access isn’t great at 6yo and the computer will be empty without, so idk. Maybe put some templates there, ideas what to draw, music or audiobooks or whatever fits the purpose…
