the child gets acquainted with the computer because of a parental shoulder, watching actions of mother or father. Also he can press out of curiosity the buttons of the system unit standing on a floor. To be played with leaving CD Rom ohm and the Reset button which reboots, very much it to be pleasant to children. More adult children are able to climb for a computer chair and to begin to study the keyboard and a mouse. At this stage it is very important to impart to the child the correct relation to the computer equipment, depends on it its further relations with the computer.
The age when the child can begin to be acquainted with the computer can vary from one and a half to three years. At first he will cannot do even the most elementary games, but the simple programs based on the principle of blocking of the keyboard will approach. During loading of a game the monitor screen dies away, and whatever key the child pressed, on it small fishes, florets, butterflies, depending on the program are highlighted. At first sight it can seem useless, but thus the child develops fingers and begins to understand relationships of cause and effect. At this age it is recommended to look through together with the child of the image by means of the computer monitor: house photos or presentations of some field of knowledge, for example human life, nature, geography, and other. Such interactive demonstrations not only broaden horizons, but also acquaint the child with other aspects of modern life, show versatility of the world. And to look through images on the monitor screen at all not more harmfully, than to watch the animated film on TV. It is easy to find free programs and the presentations for kids on the Internet.
It is especially strong it is not obligatory to accustom the child to the computer at all. The child himself with interest will knock on keys and to manipulate a mouse. After three years of children it is possible to acquaint with the real computer games. Developers of computer programs offer a wide choice of the developing games for children in whom the child directly participates in adventures on an equal basis with heroes of favourite fairy tales where habitual objects of the world around, use objects, and even letters and figures come to life. Games are organized so that the child could not only observe a specific situation, but also get an idea of similar situations and objects, contributing, thus, to the development of ability of generalization and classification in children at earlier age, than at standard training.
At acquaintance by the computer and computer programs, the child quickly enough begins to understand that objects on the screen are not the real things but only symbols which designate them. With each game these symbols become more difficult, become less similar to objects from surrounding life, passing into schemes, formulas, words. The child learns to understand that there are real objects, and is conditional which only designate real things. Idea of several levels of reality of the world surrounding us where thoughts of the person - the most difficult level of reality is so formed.
All know how difficult sometimes happens to teach to read and consider the child about itself as not easy to him to carry out simple mathematical calculations without bending of fingers, without recalculating on sticks, without using scores. Ability to read and consider, without needing external objects - it is a new stage of thinking of the small child. Computer games simplify transition of action from the external plan in internal: it becomes to available children to elementary school. In addition occupations on the computer are an excellent incentive for development of memory of the child, improvement and acceleration of processes of thinking. In computer games it is necessary to remember levels, names of heroes, to navigate with a map and to quickly make decisions. The child not only perfectly remembers information, but also remembers consciously and for a long time.
Very often parents worry that computer games slow down physical development of the child. If the child sits at the computer for days on end, it is, unfortunately, the truth. However if it is reasonable to approach this question and to know when to stop, computer games will bring more benefit to physical development of the child, than harm. In the course of the game also the small muscles of a hand develop motor coordination of the child. In any games children should press keyboard keys, to manipulate with a mouse. Thus, joint activity of several analyzers improves: the child thought - compared to the image on the screen - pressed the button or moved a mouse - received the result seen on the monitor.
Thanks to computer games it is easily possible to neutralize such problem as not understanding of the child where the right side and where left. The computer forces the child to remember well not only where the right and left side, but also where there is a North, the West, the East and the South. Without understanding the direction, at the child it not to turn out to choose the correct route for the main hero of a game or in accuracy to follow instructions. The main thing that there is this process not in the form of boring additional exercises, and is easy and unostentatious. Also computer games improve visual memory and attention, form informative motivation, thereby helping to prepare the child for school psychologically.
Every third parent at the mention of the word computer has any given fears. Let's try to deal with dangers, real and imaginary.
- Real danger: load of sight. Most of parents are afraid that the computer can spoil to the child sight. Unfortunately, at hard work even at adults arise long visual overfatigue which lead to decrease in visual acuity. Besides there can be a headache and dizziness. But nevertheless the computer is not the main reason of deterioration in sight not the computer, but heredity, the TV, reading in the dark is.
Harm from the computer can be reduced, having bought the good modern monitor with the high resolution and high frequency of development of the image which significantly reduces effect of blinking. The optimum size of the screen for the small child - 15 inches, quite will be suitable for the school student the 17-inch monitor. The optimum distance between the monitor and the child - about 45 - 60 cm, is desirable lower than the level of eyes, the correct lighting - the natural light falling at the left, and in night-time - the lamp has to light only the document with which the child, but not the screen of the monitor works to avoid the patches of light complicating work. Games with a soundtrack are more preferable as they reduce degree of load of the child's eyes. Just try to watch closely what games are played by your child, and limit the amount of time which is carried out behind a game where the maximum concentration of attention and speed of reaction is necessary. However, it is necessary to limit time anyway even if the child is busy with the developing game. For example, the four-year-old child is not recommended to carry out at the computer more than half an hour in day and also it is necessary to take a break for ten or fifteen minutes. Children of school age can increase time spent at the computer till two o'clock in day.
- Imaginary danger: radiation. This danger disappeared with mass use of modern monitors and system units which do not make any radiation. In principle, from the monitor there is a small x-ray radiation, but it is several times lower than a natural radiation background, and therefore does not constitute any danger to a human body.
- Real danger: inconvenient pose.
Unfortunately, it is one of the most widespread problems which parents face. During interaction the child looks at the screen and is at the same time forced to hold hands on the keyboard or to work as a mouse, remaining in such pose long enough. Because of long sitting in a motionless pose there are pains in muscles of a neck, a back, headaches, joints of hands hurt that can become the cause of various diseases of a musculoskeletal system. The long inconvenient pose complicates breath and can lead to fits of coughing. To reduce an adverse effect of an inconvenient pose, it is necessary to pick up working furniture correctly. Specialized children's furniture will help to reduce loading and correctly to keep situation during the work at the computer. A chair on rollers, with the adjustable height of a chair and a back, without armrests, rotating round its pivot-center. A table - with a special sliding board for the keyboard.
- Real danger: electrostatic field of high tension.
This radiation is rather adverse and can just influence the person at half a meter distance from the screen, extending the motes which settled on the screen at high speeds and negatively influencing thus skin and eyes of the one who sits in front of the computer. On modern monitors special filters which reduce tension of radiation are installed. Conditioners, dust collectors, ionizers, damp cleaning and airing of the room reduce harmful effects of electrostatic field. Washing by cold water right after the occupation on the computer is also effective.
- Real danger: high-frequency electromagnetic fields.
The main source of this danger is the rejecting electromagnetic system of a kinescope. In modern monitors such radiation is the strongest behind and at the top of the monitor, and ahead of it is practically not present. Because of it it is impossible to bend over the monitor, and to put it better a back wall to a wall.
- Real danger: mental loading.
Work at the computer demands high concentration and concentration of attention. Of course, voltage level depends on in what the child is engaged. For example, games shooters require much bigger commitment, than quiet logical games. It is necessary to remember two main ways in decrease in mental loading. According to the first way the child has to make each ten-fifteen minutes a pause in work at the computer irrespective of, than he is engaged. The second way represents control from parents of the content of games and the sites which the child visits on the Internet.
Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that parents correctly equip a workplace of the child, to completely exclude an adverse effect of the computer will not leave, especially if the child without a break plays days a favourite toy. Therefore if the computer strongly entered life of your child, you should not forget about necessary physical activity and that even the best computer games do life one-sided, and development defective if to play them constantly.
Constant development of the game industry will not allow you to limit the child to the simple developing games. At early age after all it is worth limiting the number of rather cruel games, and since fourteen years the child can give full independence in the choice of games.