Last year, I asked my husband for a new computer for my birthday. My only requirement was that it was a desktop. Call me old fashioned, but laptops just never grew on me. When my big day arrived, there was a very large box sitting on the kitchen table. Inside was a top of the line flat-screen computer with wireless everything and the piece de resistance: A touchscreen monitor. The hubz may forget to throw his socks in the hamper, but he does know how to pick out a sweet piece of machinery. When I put my eyeballs back in my head, I set to making that baby my own. I dubbed the 22-inch mammoth Bertha, and we’ve been making sweet web content ever since.
The touchscreen capability is a lot of fun, but practicality-wise, I hardly ever use it. Again, I’m old school and a mouse and keyboard suit me just fine. For my kids, however, being able to play games and manipulate screens with a simple touch or swipe of the finger has introduced them to the world of technology…and they’re in love.
My boys may only be 5, 4 and 2, but they have no problem using my computer. They love to play various learning games and “fingerpaint” everything from flowers to skyscrapers. They know how to pick movies on Netflix or find their singalongs on YouTube. It’s really astonishing for someone like me, who grew up with an Atari and Commodore 64, to see how savvy my children naturally are, having been raised with technology as a household staple. I think having a touchscreen computer has had a lot to do with that. They don’t feel intimidated by all the buttons and clicks; everything is a finger-tap away.
I recommend touchscreen computers to other parents all the time. They’re easy for children to use and the possibilities for entertainment and education are virtually endless. The only two drawbacks we’ve seen thus far are that fingerprints have to be wiped away every once in a while and our kids are confused when they encounter a TV or computer that doesn’t have a touchscreen. Other than those small things, Bertha has been an awesome addition to our household.
Touchscreen computers really simplify use for young children. They aren’t frustrated by double clicks and trying to align arrows with small boxes. The technology is intentionally hands-on, which naturally speaks to children in their early years.
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