A guide for parents on how to help young children develop ICT skills at home

What is ICT?

ICT stands for Information Communication Technology. This means a range of resources can be used. It does not just mean computers.

• television (remotes)
• telephones
• Dvd players
• video and CD players
• cameras
• programmable toys.
  

Is it important?

With the ever growing fact of becoming environmental friendly, lots of companies and associates are using computers as a way of communicating. It is therefore vital that children obtain the skills to be able to communicate and make good choices in doing so.

How can parents help their children to achieve this?

Give your children as much hands on experience as you can!

• when watching televison asked your child to change the channels turn the tv on/off
• Encourage your child to use play telephones.
• Share your experience of texting/making calls/taking photos with your mobile
• DVD's/video's/Cd players encourage your child to play, stop rewind, select tracks.
• cameras share taking photos together, if you are worried about your child using your camera then share together the viewing of the photos. Let your child watch you if you are uploading them onto a computer.
• programmable toys ie remote control cars, replica machinery ie washing machines, cash registers.

The use of the above devices can stimulate discussion and cooperative problem solving.

Supporting children using a computer.

Mouse:-

• your child should be aware that by moving the mouse controls the pointer on the screen
• when the pointer (arrow) changes to a hand smybol this means there are links.
• help your child to position their hands correctly on the mouse, and encourage the index finger to do the clicking on the correct side of the mouse. (if your child has problems with the mouse size, it may be a good idea to invest in a childs size mouse).
• support your child to click and drag.
• Once your child feels confident with the above skills.
• start to support them in logging on/off.
• double clicking is tricky and you may find you need to guide their hands for a while as movement of the mouse whilst clicking can cause the icons to move on the screen.
• show your child how to print.
• show your child how to save.
• Keyboard:-
• Encourage your child to use both hands whilst typing on the keys.
• use the shift key and not the caps lock key to type capital letters.

Useful websites:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ The bbc produces some very good educational web pages
www.pingu.net/uk Lots of children love to play these games.
www.pbskids.org/ Games and activities
http://www.kids.yahoo.com/ Games and activities

www.sparklebox.co.uk Lots of printable materials available to support your childs learning