Alex began using Rusty and Rosy Learn with Me last week. He loves it. I probably could have started him a little earlier, but I wanted to wait until I was certain that he could work independently. Alex is 3 years and 3.5 months old.

I had tried a few computer games with him when he was two. That’s when I learned that two-year-olds—even when they are precocious—need lots of help with computers. At two, Alex couldn’t use a mouse at all. The whole concept of moving something here to change something there was way beyond him. And somehow, he always missed the instructions. He would look at the fun graphics with anticipation, but he wouldn’t know what to do. So I would repeat the instructions and let him point to the screen while I used the mouse.

I did not want Rusty and Rosy to be a “lap game.” With a new baby, I needed Alex to be independent just as much as he wanted to be independent.

Two things have amazed me thus far in our adventure:

  1. Alex totally participates. When the computer says “sing along,” he sings! When the computer says “get a pencil and paper to practice writing letter A,” he gets the pencil and paper and scribbles (he’s not ready to write quite yet.) He chants letter names along with the computer. He is totally engrossed.
  2. Alex uses the mouse like a pro. On day one, I would hear him try over and over to click on the “go on” button. Each time he rolled the mouse over it, the button would say “go on.” This would happen five or ten times before he finally clicked. Now, after about four sessions on the computer, he can click on the first or second try. So practice makes perfect. I also have a little hint about the mouse … but I’ll save that for next time.

So what age did you start your child on the computer? Have you been surprised by the result? Please share your thoughts!