<strong>How Computer Play Promotes Development</strong>

The Computer Area is a place where children can have fun while exploring the many exciting things that computers do. Children use computers to investigate questions, solve problems, and explore and manipulate objects on a screen. This work supports development in all areas.

<strong>Social/emotional development</strong>

Computers are a way for children to demonstrate self-direction and independence. At the same time, they offer children opportunities to work with other children to solve problems, as they jointly maneuver their way through a program. For some children, becoming computer “experts” provides them with a valued leadership role in the classroom they might not have otherwise.

<strong>Physical development</strong>

Children work on fine motor skills as they use a keyboard, put a CD-ROM in the drive, and coordinate the cursor with the movement of the mouse. In fact, every action on a computer involves fine motor development and eye-hand coordination.

<strong>Cognitive development</strong>

Computers contribute to children’s intellectual development, and bridge the gap between concrete and abstract thinking. As children explore cause and effect, create patterns, solve problems, and discover solutions, they learn to do on a screen what they already have mastered through hands-on learning. Creativity flourishes, too, as children create art, arrange objects in unique ways, and experiment with graphics.

<strong>Language development</strong>

As children learn to identify and use computer-related terms such as <em>icon, cursor, </em>or <em>CD-ROM</em>, they gain a technical vocabulary. With practice, they begin to identify the letters of the alphabet on the keyboard and in programs. As they use software that can read and highlight spoken text, they make connections between speech and print.