Internet and toddlers

My DH just got home from visiting some OOS family. Their youngest child is just turning 3. DH was telling me how impressed he was that the little one could go on line, build a screen name and save pages in favorites.

Call me old fashioned, but I really need to know... is this what I should be aiming for DD when she is 2? I thought by 2 impressive would be riding her tricycle and doing forward rolls at mommy and me? Maybe I have different values/priorities, and personally I'm not a fan of kids on the internet altogether... although I've come to terms with the fact that she'll have to use the Web for school. I know you put security stuff on the computers and I know that she already sees me on my work laptop afterhours b/c of things my job requires. I just didn't see my DD becoming an i-net wizz-kid at 2?

DH is huge into the idea of the Nickolodeon Web site. I know his other child from the past is big on that, but not to sound like I'm generalizing but that child is overweight and has health problems associated with such and is not even a teen yet. The 3 year old I mentioned earilier is not heavy, but both parents happen to be morbidly obese. I know that she is not involved in any kind of mommy and me stuff be it gymnastics, gymboree, swimming, etc.

I'm more the type that would like DD to know yoga positions by 3 than how to bookmark the web. Am I outdated in my thinking? I need to know b/c I would never want to stunt my DD's chances of being successful in school... however she does go to Tutor Time so I'm sure they'll give her that type of instruction if it's warranted as well... right now we are still in the first infant classroom. I am certainly as commited to her intellectual development as we are to her physical development. My gut reaction when DH told me about the 3 year old was the opposite of impressed. Then I realized it may be me that needs to change. I appreciate thoughts on this.

Message edited 11/30/2008 12:38:08 PM.

Re: Internet and toddlers

Your not "outdated" or anything. But I think you could be a bit more flexible in your thinking. I don't think there's anything wrong with your husband wanting to play on the Nick site with DC and then go for a bike ride with mom or something.

I think it's great when kids are computer savvy but that doesn't mean she will be a couch potato or morbidly obese. Balance is everything IMO.

Re: Internet and toddlers

There's nothing wrong with being involved in computers AND yoga, soccer, karate, etc.

DS started "surfing" around 3yo as well. He knew how to use Google, and surf different sites (he is never on the PC without either me or DW on our PC right next to him).

He is also in soccer, karate, etc. Computer use doesn't define him, it's just one more activity that he does. I am heavily into computers myself, so both DC will be influenced by me. I figure that computers are everywhere, so might as well get them used to it as soon as possible. In schools now, it's as important as learning how to read and write.....