Benefits for Children
There is no doubt that the computer is a valuable activity
center for learning. In fact, research has shown that preschoolers who use computers to do activities that enhance
the major learning objectives of the preschool curriculum have significantly
greater developmental gains when compared to children who do not use computers. Real benefits include gains in intelligence, long-term memory, manual dexterity, verbal
skills, problem solving, abstraction, and conceptual skills. Eventually they
learn how to seek out information on the Internet which can greatly assist them
at the primary, secondary and university stages of their education. The following is a list of potential gains for preschoolers:
- Uses Active Learning - makes learning fun and interesting
- Develops hand eye coordination - all activities using mouse skills
- Improves motor skills
- Foster creativity through coloring activities, listening to music
- Develops pre-reading skills - letter recognition, phonics, word recognition
- Develops pre-maths skills - number recognition, counting, shapes, patterns
- Develops logic, reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving skills - puzzles, games
- Short term memory development - matching games
- Thinking skills - puzzles, matching games, listening to stories
- Encourages language development - listening to instructions, understanding, following instructions, speaking, phonics, listening to stories, singing
- Early exposure to computer technology and the Internet which can be used together as a learning tool
- Encourages a positive attitude towards learning
Related Articles
Computers and Young ChildrenEarly Childhood Computer Experience
Booting Up: Using the Computer as a Learning Tool
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