What (and how) do you teach your children digital skills and knowledge?

There has been a few posts in the "Education" section of the forums about teaching children about computers and digital technology? 

In my work, I spend a lot of time training teachers and others about how to think about and use digital tools in the classroom from tablets to interactive whiteboards and different open source software. The more I share, the more I see how far many teachers have to go...

So, in the interest of helping each other out - what are your great ideas and ways that you build your children's skills and knowledge about technology. 

Do you teach your kids to code?

Do you let your 1 year old play with your iPad?

My biggest tip is "don't touch the tech". When my children come and say, "Dad how do I <insert request here>?" It may be insert an image, or download a new program, or fix an error...I come and talk to them about it, I ask questions, but I never do it for them...they learn by doing it themselves and finding the answers...the way I had too - because no one else in my house knew how to use a Commodore 64.

Love to hear your ideas and experiences.

Tags: digital, learning, literacy, media, skills, teaching, technology

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Donahoo on April 23, 2012 at 7:45pm

Love that analogy...I think the whole "sitting with" is really important. As parents we need to help guide and encourage in ways that are meaningful, I say the same thing about TV...kids can get so much more out of it if we sit next to them and discuss the content they are watching.

How do you do this: "And when you tie AI/NPC, or what they think to be "random" events, into a digital interaction, you get to see them really think about how they might do it better."???

thanks

Permalink Reply by A is for Alien on August 8, 2012 at 6:30pm

my son is two and i'm allowing him to become engaged with tech. 

every kid watches TV so i don't really count that as Tech.
when it comes to the computers around the house i don't know how he does it but he always manages to turn some setting on or off that requires a good amount of work to reset.

so i decided no computer but aye here is a tablet. 
there are less chances you can mess this up right... so far so good.

I've started getting some good educational apps for him. so far this has worked very well. 

it even sparked the creative side in me to start developing apps i think would be useful for his development.
step by step.

when the time comes i'm sure i'll teach him code if he shows interest. 

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