Kids need to know how to use a computer, simply due to how prevalent they are in modern society! The majority of homes around the world have at least 2 computers, and every single school and business up and down the country is going to use computers for a whole range of tasks.
As such, if you want your child to be able to keep up, it’s important that they know how to use a keyboard and mouse, as well as many common programs, and also how to stay safe when going online and potentially interacting with strangers. Let’s shed a little more light on the importance of computer skills for kids.
Preparing for the World of Tomorrow
The world is becoming more digital every single day, and if you want your child to be able to find their place in the world, it’s best to help them keep up with tech trends as soon as possible. From being able to use a computer, to knowing how smartphones work, to soon moving into the burgeoning world of AI and VR, your child really has been born into the world of tomorrow!
Your child will need a bit of a head start to keep them ahead of the curve. If they know how the internet works, and what the ‘cloud’ is, and even if you introduce them to the world of coding (what kid doesn’t love video games?!), you’ll be doing them a massive service for the future.
Promoting Online Safety
If your child knows how to use a computer, and they know how to do so from a young age, they’ll be a lot more likely to stay safe when they’re online. They’ll be needing to use the internet a lot, especially if they’re using online schooling when at home, so it only makes sense to let them know the dangers of the internet as soon as possible.
They’ll know the ins and outs of how the internet works, what a ‘safe’ website looks like, and to always ignore messages and emails from people they don’t know. Most of all, if they know the meaning of common terms such as ‘troll’ and ‘spam’, they’ll be able to pinpoint such content a mile away.
Of course, you don’t have to go into strict detail here, but you absolutely need to mention how some websites can be dangerous to visit, and if they see anything that upsets them, they should come to you. Make sure the ensuing talk in a situation like this is always gentle, to ensure your child trusts you to take care of their online woes, and always comes to you in the future.
You can also tell them about how certain programs help to keep the computer safe as well. Make sure they know they’re not alone in the fight against the worst side of the internet; kids need to feel safe, and this is the best way to make sure. Let them know about antivirus and malware removal tools, and check out a list of the best reviewed programs right here, so you can know what you’re talking about!
The Most Relevant Skill to Teach
Of course, not all tech skills need to be taught at a young age. As kids grow, they’ll naturally pick up a few more things, and they’ll have to go on specialist courses to learn a few other things. And a lot of computer skills come about naturally, from years of use, but the need to learn them can be ingrained from a young age.
For example, learning how to ‘touch type’, is something you can tell your child how to do, but they’ll have to practice to get any good at it. Indeed, learning how to best use a keyboard in the first place is one of the most basic and important skills you can show your son or daughter.
It’s the main way to use a PC, combined with a mouse, and without either piece of equipment, it can be very hard to get on with anything. And you don’t want your child to have to enter data key by key for the rest of their life! It’s slow and boring, uncompetitive, and might just make your kid never want to use a computer again.
Kids need to know how to use the computer, for jobs, ease of use, and even just being able to keep up with their school friends. Make sure you keep the above reasons in mind.
