Be knowledgeable of the developmental limitations of the children. Monitor student interactions to ensure active participation of all. Avoid quizzing or offering help before children invite it. Provide adequate preparation and follow-up for computer activities as for other activities. Operating a computer involves sets of procedures and provides experience in realizing the importance of following a process to get a desired outcome.
Young children enjoy helping each other become computer operators.
When young children work together on the computer, a lot of socializing takes place as they share their discoveries and ideas, create new worlds, solve problems, write and illustrate stories, and formulate concepts. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills are developed as they decide whose idea will make the final cut or how to use the ideas of both. Computers are an additional avenue through which some children, who have difficulty experiencing success in other areas, can demonstrate that they have talents too. Their stories can stand on their own merit rather than continue to be locked inside their heads simply because the fingers can't keep up with the images of the mind. As young children operate a computer, they are developing fine motor skills.