Setting up on old laptop for a child

[The Monkey]

I'm giving my old Dell Laptop to the Little Monkey, so I'd like to kiddy-fi it as much as possible. Any suggestions for games, applications, etc. to make it more user-friendly for him? (He's 4.)

It's running Windows XP. It's a beater.

[luvdunhill]

I recommend introducing him to PBS Kids, Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney, etc. My kids vastly prefer these sites over traditional games.

I'm assuming at age 4 he's pretty computer proficient. If not, the hardest thing for my kids to figure out was that the right mouse button wasn't used to select things. This is frustrating in Flash games, because this brings up a property dialog. It took both of my kids a while to figure this out when they started using the computer on their own (at 2 for my son and a bit before that for my daughter).

Now that I think about it, both kids use our iPhone's a lot these days. There are some really great educational and fun games for this platform. I think my son played Soosiz for example for 4 months or so until he mastered it My daughter really likes the wood puzzle games where you move pieces into place, rotate them, etc.

[The Monkey]

Yeah, the mouse coordination is the hardest part for him. And ideally I would get him an iPad. But maybe grandpa and grandma will come through. The PBS kids, etc. suggestions are great, thanks. I'll also take Resksy's advice and have the Boy try to blow up the moon.

[Duggeh]

If he's having trouble with a mouse (maybe because of tiny hands) you could try a trackball.

[The Monkey]

It's a trackpad, but he's actually getting the hang of it. Amazing how quickly they learn this stuff. My dad still hasn't mastered the mouse.

The real problem here is that the laptop is a total piece of junk, which is great because he can't break it, but it takes forever to boot up (when it does boot because the power button is hosed). Maybe a netbook is in order.

[luvdunhill]

The trackpad was definitely harder for the kids to figure out and they aren't nearly as fast with it even now. I'd recommend finding a wireless "travel mouse" or "laptop mouse". The key with these is they are much smaller and fit better into the kids hands. My son actually learned to use a fullsize mouse (this was before I thought to try the smaller one) by turning it 180 degrees where the spot where the cord would exit (if it wasn't wireless) pointed towards him. Of course, all movements are "backwards" but it was a better fit in his hand, because he then rested his palm on the table and had easy access to the buttons (and again, the right button then selects things, which is how my kids seem to think things should work. Also, to address this you can configure the mouse as if it was to be used by a lefty). The smaller mouse definitely made things easier for them...

[morphsci]

We have a little HP mini-desktop for our little guy. He still has problems with trackpads but was pretty expert with a standard mouse almost immediately. Marc's suggestions with the kiddy websites are right on. Right now pbskids.org is his default website. He's pretty much self-sufficient now for most things except when the computer screws up (which is quite often since it's Windows xp).

[The Monkey]

So far it's a real hit. I may have to reinstall XP because the thing is a dog, but I'm also tempted to get him something else, though his mother would kill me.

[morphsci]

We are eventually going to swap the PC out with a MAC mini. He always wants to use our his mom's iMac.

[Tyll Hertsens]

When I was four, my dad gave me a coffee pot to play with.

(I shit you not.)

Kids these days!

[MexicanDragon]

My kids have had their own computer for about a year now (7/4 now). They are both good with it. Wired mouse + leaving the trackpad functional would be my recommendation (keeping orientation right + not losing it = reasons to go for wired). My kids are fine with a regular sized mouse, but the mini ones would be fine. Xavier did take the scissors to the cord one time, so I wouldn't put TOO much into a mouse, now that I think about it.

I have firefox set up with the bookmark bar at the top. I have a link to NickJr.com, cartoonnetwork.com, hulu.com (for the kids' section) and also a link to Netflix.com for the Kids' section of "Watch Instantly." Zoe also has her own facebook account with her own farmville farm , though that may be more for the wife's benefit than hers. There are probably a lot of games like that on FB, though. There are sites out there that do educational games too, but I'll have to go look to find those, I believe.

Depending on how old the machine is, I'd probably do a fresh install of XP.

I believe a few of the games the kids have on their machine are from realarcade.com, but maybe that was just the older one. There is some cheap (7$ or so) subscription I have where the kids (and/or wife) gets game credits monthly.

Also, you'll want to set up Foobar and all appropriate plugins, or maybe break down and install iTunes. That way he'd be most of the way ready for his ULN-2 when he gets to "upgrade" to a mac next year.

**BRENT**

[jinp6301]

Obviously, I have no kids and I have no idea what I'm talking about but why are you guys introducing computers to your kids so early? IMO, it seems that with so many kids spending too much time on the computer and that it doesnt seem to teach kids anything (imo again), I don't really see the benefit.

/wetblanket

[MexicanDragon]

Obviously, I have no kids and I have no idea what I'm talking about but why are you guys introducing computers to your kids so early? IMO, it seems that with so many kids spending too much time on the computer and that it doesnt seem to teach kids anything (imo again), I don't really see the benefit.

/wetblanket

Hippie.

My little girl has computer class at school. They see mommy and daddy on their computers and are interested. There are educational games/websites.

Did you not have a Speak & Spell when you were a kid?

It's kinda like that, but more. It also keeps old computers from hitting the landfill and killing the planet.

Planet Killer.

**BRENT**

[The Monkey]

Obviously, I have no kids and I have no idea what I'm talking about but why are you guys introducing computers to your kids so early? IMO, it seems that with so many kids spending too much time on the computer and that it doesnt seem to teach kids anything (imo again), I don't really see the benefit.

/wetblanket

It's to keep them off the pole.

[manaox2]

Obviously, I have no kids and I have no idea what I'm talking about but why are you guys introducing computers to your kids so early? IMO, it seems that with so many kids spending too much time on the computer and that it doesnt seem to teach kids anything (imo again), I don't really see the benefit.

/wetblanket

I'm thinking I'll teach my child to use a PC as soon as they start reading. Its like reading rainbow. The more you know...

I do think that I will make them pay for their own video game online subscriptions and limit their time on that. And I will spy like crazy on their computer usage.

[morphsci]

They actually had computers for the children to use in the day care we used. I think you guys are dating yourselves.