Sep 13, 2009, 14:31 GMT
Munich - Most parents only want the best for their children, but it's OK to settle for second-best when it comes to computers.
Children don't need the newest, fastest system out there. Usually, they're just fine with the old family computer, provided it doesn't make too much noise and can still support modern software.
When handing over a computer, keep an eye on accessories, since a lot of them aren't childproof. And, even if every kid today knows how to use a computer, that doesn't mean each child needs his own.
Every other child aged 6 to 7 uses a computer every now and then, according to a 2008 study by a German media and education group. Among 12 to 13-year-olds, that figure is 95 per cent. A quarter of children interviewed already had their own computer.
Matthias Petzold, a media psychologist who teaches at the universities of Dusseldorf and Cologne, says there is no reason children shouldn't have computer access. Generally, they should be allowed to have fun with the computers.
Here are a few things parents should keep an eye on when it comes to kids and computers:
Computing power: Children are generally fine with used computers, so long as they're not so old that they can't support contemporary educational software, says Joerg Schieb, who works with Stiftung Warentest, a German consumer goods rating agency.
If the game gets stuck or skips, then the computer is too old. If a new machine is necessary, a basic one will generally do. It should have a minimum of 1 gigabyte (GB) of working memory and at least 100 GB of hard drive space. Most kids will never max out those capacities.
Listen before you buy. Computers for children need to be quiet, since children's ears are more sensitive to noise than adults', says Schieb. Spinning hard drives are especially prone to making noises at frequencies troubling to children.
Buy the right accessories: It's important to have a monitor with a sharp picture, advises Schieb. 'Anyone who gives their kid an old cathode-tube monitor with a cloudy picture is punishing their kid unnecessarily.'
Schieb recommends a TFT widescreen monitor. It should have an image repeat frequency of at least 85 hertz. Young children can benefit from specially designed computer mice, says Christoph Gieger, a media expert with the German Youth Institute in Munich, since standard mice are often too large for children's hands.
To avoid back pain, Peztold recommends casting a critical eye on the child's workspace. 'A basic rule of thumb is that the upper edge of the computer screen can't be higher than the child's eye level,' he says.
Set up a family PC: For starters, children don't need their own computer until they can operate games or education programmes alone, says Petzold. Most children reach this point sometime during elementary school. 'Whether they need one right from the start is another question,' he says.
Until the child can operate solo, a family PC will do. Skip an internet connection in your child's bedroom. Web surfing should be conducted from the family PC.
To make sure children don't cause problems - like accidentally erasing a tax programme - children should get their own password, with limitations. Those can be set up under the Start key in Windows by going to System Controls and then User Accounts.
Children need direction: Whether it's on the family PC or an their own computer, children need support. Younger children often have problems with keyboards and the mouse, says Gieger.
For example, most children understand that they want to make something move on the monitor. 'They put their full concentration on the mouse and its operations and don't keep an eye on what's going on on the monitor.'
Children also often have problems with double-clicking and scrolling. Parents also need to be on standby for basic questions. 'Children will have a lot of questions about a programme or they'll skip over things to which they should pay attention,' says Petzold.
Set computer time limits: Windows Vista lets parents set time limits for computer use, says Schieb. Parents can also set which games and programmes children can access. Windows XP offers less in this regard, meaning special programmes for parental controls are needed.
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