Getting Started

1. Preview sites yourself first.

Learn how to operate them. Otherwise, you’ll waste time and are bound to frustrate or bore your child. Make mental notes about the sites your child enjoys.

2. Progress slowly

Introduce one site at a time.  Don’t over-stimulate!  Control the activity while encouraging your child to imitate your lead. Share, talk, question, encourage, laugh. Initiate interaction with both you and the site. Above all.... have fun!  

3. Watch for clues

Interest and engagement are key to this process. Fidgeting and loss of focus indicate lack of interest or frustration that you are doing something wrong or that the activity is just not suitable.  Don’t be afraid to change your approach or move to another activity. Make mental notes about the types of activities your child enjoys.

4. You are the tour guide.  

Lead your child on an interesting and fun adventure. Your goal is to spark engagement and foster independence.  

5. Teach them.

• Obtain something he wants
• Make choices
• Control outcomes
• Communicate
• Provide information

6. Observe reactions.  Be prepared to alter your approach.

Does your child prefer music, lights, or on-screen action/content?  What upsets him?  You want to get your child hooked on learning.  Start with what he likes and use their own positive energy to entice them further.  

Uh-oh. Perseveration. What now?

Congratulations, you have found something your child likes!  Now put it to good use.

1. Allow moderate time for repetition.

Computers are fun... and addictive. But some perseveration is normal.  It’s the way people practice and “understand” a new skill.  But, as Groucho Marx used to say on “You Bet Your Life”, “I love a good cigar... but sometimes I take it out of my mouth”.  Use personal judgment to induce your child to move on. The worst that can happen is that they get really good at an important skill.

2. Prepare for the transition

Describe the next activity you wish to show them.  Explain that you are not stopping the activity they like, but merely switching to a new one temporarily. Make the new activity sound exciting. Assure your child that if he doesn’t like the new activity, they will be able to go back to the previous one.

3. Act quickly

If you sense that your child will tolerate the change for a moment, move immediately to the new activity.

Maintain a running commentary of everything you are doing. Disarm potential tantrums with temporary diversionary tactics (you know how).

4. Be reassuring

Even if children have no clue of what is going on, your voice will be reassuring and help them to remain calm until the new activity is on-screen and ready for their participation.

5. Develop trust

If the new activity bombs, go back to the prior activity.  Say, “I see that you don’t like doing this.  That’s OK because you tried it. You can go back to (activity name).  Maybe next time you might like this better.”

6. Maintain your authority

After returning to a prior activity, tell your child how long they may continue to play.  Later, ask them to stop.   Do not get angry if they ignore you.  However, if your child is adamant about continuing, use this to your benefit.  Propose a deal.  If they try the new activity for five minutes FIRST, they will earn five more minutes at the old one.  The NEW ACTIVITY always goes first.

No deal?  .. no computer.  Bye Bye.