Computer Tips.

• Make sure that you can see a computer screen from many places in the room so that you can quickly teach children on a need to know basis.

• A Dbl. Click to open programs is hard; teach children how to click once to select the program then press ENTER to open the program.

• Set the mouse pointer to Large.

• Only put a few shortcuts to a few programs on the desktop. It will take the children plenty of experience to get to know these programs well and it is not until they’ve had a chance to explore, investigate and practice that they will begin to use the software for its purposes.

• If the sounds coming from the computer are distracting other children use headphones, buy headphone splitters to attach more than one pair to a computer.

• Make sure there is plenty of room in front of the computer for children to move the mouse and to swap it between their left and right hands

• Egg timers and a ‘waiting’ or ‘helping’ chair work well for developing children’s independence at managing computer time but watch out for those children who are not assertive or confident enough to use these devices: some children will need support in getting computer time.

• Make sure Childlock is on to prevent children getting error messages and pop up menus when they click with the right mouse button.

• Encourage the children to see the computer as a tool from the beginning of their time at nursery; use it for your purposes and for supporting their printing of photographs etc.