Computing Skills Workbooks for a Kid (5-7 Year Old)

kaleidoscope on 21/10/2024 - 00:15
Last edited 21/10/2024 - 12:07 by 1 other user

G'day folks, my kid's shown real interest in learning how do use a computer (any OS is fine) and am very much interested on taking up the task. I thought there would be plenty of resources out there, except it was not…

I did find fair bit of learning materials about coding or programming or computer science skills which is not at all what I am looking for. It's more to do with basic computer skills such as typing / writing up a document / email / draw / files, folders etc…

Are these materials only available for school educators?
Basically, what am looking for are simple computing skills workbooks that are good for guiding for a parent and follow along when required.

(I did learn all these by myself after I turned 18 when I got my first PC, but times are very different now. I know my way around a computer and can teach an adult about it, but I know nothing about teaching to a younger child who is just starting…)

Any recommendations from someone who's been through similar journey are greatly appreciated.

✌️

Education & Work

Comments

  • Benoffie on 21/10/2024 - 02:39
    +3

    Still use Mavis Beacon and similar for typing. There's keybr, monkeytype, typing.com (US) etc

    School resources are trash and outdated. Recommend a MS course, online and free, even for a child.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/word-for-windows-…

    Honestly, if a teacher isn't using this anyway, Im not sure what they're doing.

    • sam-1966 on 21/10/2024 - 13:09
      +1

      Getting kids to learn to touch type is a fantastic idea. I learned to type at high school, when we didn't have access to computers - hell, there were only four electric typewriters in the classroom.

      Probably the thing I learned at school that I have used the most.

    • kaleidoscope on 22/10/2024 - 00:20
      +1

      Cannot believe forgot about the typing practice websites. Brilliant

      I'll explore more on the windows articles you've mentioned, thanks!

  • morse on 21/10/2024 - 03:01
    +1

    I’d say it’s because most is not really learned from a book, moreso online and via apps/programs or just being shown. I’d start by getting them to learn through doing, same way most of us learned to use a computer. ie they drive and you guide. Once they know the basics then you can use resources on the computer to teach them.

  • AustriaBargain on 21/10/2024 - 06:48
    +1

    Kids learn through YouTube these days. Reading a book to tell them how to use a computer? That's very un-mog.

  • Randxyz123 on 21/10/2024 - 07:28
    +2

    Books? For using a computer??

    It is a practical skill. Get them a used basic laptop. The first big one is learning how to touch type. While I am not all that accurate anymore thanks to auto correct, it is a really important skill to learn.

    Next would be programming. Apple’s app for learning programming is meant to be pretty decent and I’m sure there would be decent android equivalents. It is nothing complex, just learning the IFTTT and similar concepts.

    • kaleidoscope on 21/10/2024 - 09:30

      Books? For using a computer??

      Hmm, not sure why that's such a strange thing though. I was thinking in the line of less distraction and bit more focus / guide than a youtube video and one thing that's really good I like with workbook style learning is it's great to refer back at a quick glance. (may be i'm too old to think this way >.< …)

      I've used apple's app on ipad and yeah it's very decent. Currently however I'm more interested on getting the kid more familiar and comfortable around everyday computing skills than programming.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 21/10/2024 - 08:16
    +1

    Try the Khan Academy. It's free. The founder won numerous awards for his work, and has received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I first heard of him at an International Middle Schooling Conference, where he was a keynote speaker.
    Here's a link.
    https://www.khanacademy.org/computing

  • jugsy on 21/10/2024 - 10:32
    -1

    Definitely agree that interactive apps/websites are the way to go over books.

    Many good options: https://www.google.com/search?q=coding+for+kids

  • boomramada on 21/10/2024 - 14:01

    kid's shown real interest in learning how do use a computer

    Kids learn how to use computers in a practical way, next they are showing you how to hack the school computer network. The same applies to elderlies.

  • johninmelb on 21/10/2024 - 17:48
    +1

    Many years ago I was teaching basic computer skills to mostly unemployed women looking to re-enter the workforce after taking time out for children etc.

    The main focus was on some tryping skills, then how to use basic functions in Word to type resumes and application letters etc.

    However I did teach basic stuff like how to save files, set up folders, cut, copy and paste, and all those things we all take for granted and barely think about.

    One thing I did use - and I don't know if it still exists - was a BBC website with Bob the Builder which was aimed at kids learning basic computer skills. We tried it with the women and whilst it was a bit childish, it made learning basic skills a bit easier and fun.

    Digressing slightly, it appears to that you may have stumbled upon a possible business opportunity here. If there are no training resources for this market niche, then……..

    • kaleidoscope on 22/10/2024 - 00:15

      You read my mind there with the last point. There is definitely a gap and huge opportunity for further exploration.

  • Nucleus Acumbens on 09/11/2024 - 01:53

    What about one of the "for dummies" books? There is one called "Office for dummies", for example.

    Also a bunch of courses for all sorts of computing skills on Udemy.

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