Word processing, for instance, is an open-ended tool for children, letting them write expressively at a much earlier age than before. Since the result is legible, it lends itself to the desktop publishing efforts of many modern classrooms. Where I taught, the most popular books in the school library were books written by other students. But not all thoughts come verbally children have always turned to dramatic play and to picture-making to delve more deeply into imaginary worlds. It is here that crayons, puppets, and miniature figures play so important a role.
Programmers now labor to simulate such tools and toys on the computer, but with mixed results.
Let's see if we can expose these limitations by looking carefully at computer paint programs. Such programs have evolved rapidly to allow users to paint the screen in any number of ways. Before long this program, Kid Pix, became a major hit. When you use Kid Pix you find that part of the thrill is discovering what each one of its tools does. You can use the mixer to tessellate, reverse, outline, displace, or fracture your image.