ICT in the Early Years
E2BN ICT in the Early Years
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Using computers and software in the Early Years

Pages in this article:
Using computers and software in the Early Years | Computer Tips. | Setting up a desktop for children to use independently. | Making a mouse pointer larger | Downloading CD's to your hard drive. | Websites for practitioners | Websites for Children | Software | Software - 2Simple

Using computers and software in the Early Years is a PowerPoint we use for training. It raises questions that may help you and your colleagues consider new ways of using your computers. It may also help give you some ideas of how to evaluate and select software.

After looking at the PowerPoint you might like to download the Word document Software and Resources. This lists much of the software and resources that are used at Homerton along with supplier details to help with ordering.

Have a look at the Continuous Provision document. This shows the ICT provision we have out and available to children for independent access. We would develop this with enhanced provision listed in the same document.

The documents on the following pages take you through technical steps to set up your computers for appropriate use in the Early Years. If you would like to access further training on how to use many web tools that are available then there are some really excellent Teacher Training Videos. Click on the link to find out how to download from YouTube, create a simple text blog and more!

Increase your own skills by following the prompt sheet on ‘Writing a newsletter in Word’ then search through the lists of Early Years websites for practitioners and children to add to your provision. 'How to create weblinks for children' is a prompt sheet that will help you set up links in Word to the children's favourite sites using icons they are able to recognise.

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on 17th Mar 2009 at 8:36 pm
1 steph blackmore
wow what a fabulous informative website you have and how kind of you to share your expertise and ideas with others. THANK YOU!! ps what walkie talkies do you advise us to buy as we have made expensive mistakes in the past when the walkie talkies bought wre too difficult for earl years children to use!
on 20th Mar 2009 at 9:32 pm
2 Harriet Price
Thank you for your comment and very glad you are finding the site helpful. Yes, walkie talkies are notoriously difficult for young children to use. You could try the 2-way channel headsets from Argus, last time I looked these were under £10. Children wear these like headphones with a microphone piece. We buy cheap walkie talkies as we have found the children use them for speaking and listening whether they work or not! They use them in their play and pretend to listen through the walkie talkies whilst really being close enough to hear. As even defunct walkie talkies are supporting the development of CLL we are quite happy with them!
on 10th May 2009 at 12:25 pm
3 Lynette Long
Hello, I would like to thank you for all the ideas on this website as they are assisting me with a college assignment. I am looking at how much ICT children under five use whether at home or in the setting. Do your children use the computers at normal height desks or are they positioned at child height? I am trying to discover how best to set up our computer, bearing in mind my setting has to put away all the equipment at the end of each morning session. Thank you
on 11th May 2009 at 10:03 am
4 Harriet Price
Thank you! We use a mixture of tables at children’s height and computer trolleys. We are keener on the tables as they allow for more space around the equipment. However, if you do need to put a desktop computer away regularly then I think a child’s computer trolley with casters would be the most appropriate for you. Have a look in Early Years catalogues such as Hope or Galt. Alternatively, if the computer has not been bought yet you might like to think of purchasing a laptop. We have used these successfully in the Early Years and they are far more portable.
on 11th May 2009 at 10:03 am
5 Harriet Price
Thank you! We use a mixture of tables at children’s height and computer trolleys. We are keener on the tables as they allow for more space around the equipment. However, if you do need to put a desktop computer away regularly then I think a child’s computer trolley with casters would be the most appropriate for you. Have a look in Early Years catalogues such as Hope or Galt. Alternatively, if the computer has not been bought yet you might like to think of purchasing a laptop. We have used these successfully in the Early Years and they are far more portable.

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