Now even preschools are weaning kids on microchips. Now 17, he has his own office at his parents' Toronto home, equipped with continuous Internet access. While doing his homework, he usually leaves open his Web browser, his e-mail program, and a Web chat program called ICQ for keeping in constant touch with his friends. On evenings, weekends, and vacations, Kojima makes money doing Web-design work. Welcome to the digital reinvention of childhood.
Kids have a staggering breadth of material readily available online.
Their reach is global. Kids can chat freely with friends half a world away. Meanwhile, parents are torn. Others worry that we're raising a generation that is losing the ability to conduct logical, coherent discourse. The kindergartens and preschools of America are ready.