[Destroyer661]

This guy's kids are 4 and 6 and they don't use the computer OR play video games? Tough for me to take this seriously when Star Wars seems more developmentally important to him than essential technologies that will help his kids succeed.

[pdx]

Really? It's so hard to learn to use a computer that we need kids to start using them, and playing video games, before 6? That point and click is a tough concept to grasp. They better start early.

As you can tell, I couldn't disagree with you more. My kids are 4 and 2, and I have grudgingly allowed them to use my laptop, because they demanded it. I certainly didn't encourage them, and I will never allow them to play video games before they learn a little thing like reading books.

You and I share the belief that there are things that are valuable for kids to learn. I believe this is reading and independent thought, not pointing and clicking. If your grandma learned it at 50, why can't a kid wait till he's at least learned to sit still and focus on a non-moving page of print, which is the more difficult thing, I think.

[shanselman]

Research in cognitive development shows that brains are REALLY absorbing a lot at 4 and 6. These are YOUNG kids. A four was pooping his pants 18 months and learning to walk 3 years ago.

They'll have more than enough keyboard and screen time when they are 8 or 10 and I'm sure they'll catch up just fine.

I'm having them focus on social skills, becoming polylingual, talking to people, reading actual dead tree books, going to the library, making mud pies and running in fields.

I believe what I'm teaching them are essential technologies that will help them succeed.

[jiggy2011]

I didn't use a computer until I was about 7, I know plenty of people who didn't use one until they were about 12. Doesn't seem to have affected our ability to use them too much.

[codefrenzy]

This highly depends on the child itself, the parents, the circumstances/country/culture in which the child grows up in and to some degree, the sex of the child too. I was introduced to computers at the age of 5 and it has definitely helped me become the software developer I am today.

I'd say a huge reason why there aren't more women in technology is because girls aren't introduced to computers (and/or gaming) early enough, or as early as most boys are.

[mendicant]

Children's minds are built to soak in information. You could wait until a kid was 10 to introduce them to computers and they would still blow your mind with what they could figure out and do.

I highly doubt that holding off on video games and computers will be a detriment in the long run.

[shanselman]

I'm counting on that.