Computer for Almost 5 Year Old

I would suggest a computer.... that way, if something is spilled on the keyboard, for example, it is just a new keyboard for $15 or so, instead of an expensive repair job. Computers have easily replaceable components instead of being a more expensive replacement.

I recommend the Leap-Pad AND a separate computer/lap-top/i-pad for homeschooling.

We homeschool...and believe me...you DO NOT want one of your most important and probably the most expensive tool for educating your kids to also be a source of entertainment and play.

At age 5 and 3, kids are mostly interested in computers for playtime...not real academic work. It's a waste of money IMO to give them what would be an expensive "toy" they're not really ready for.

Furthermore, I'm pretty certain you will not be letting them surf the net on their own and aside from games, what else is there for them to do at this age on a computer? Not having an age appropriate alternative outlet for games etc., you run the very real risk of the homeschool computer getting damaged and/or destroyed and you'll be left with nothing for school when you actually need it.

I don't know about you, but we've gone through 3 computers and two cell phones in one year not long ago because our children were too young for the technology (but older than your children)...this all happend under our watchful eyes too!

At age 5, a Leap-Pad is plenty computer/technology. Realistically, she/they won't be actually using it for real work until they're in about 2nd grade when they'll be starting to put together book reports etc. If you purchase a boxed curriculum or online curriculum that utilizes the computer primarily, in the next year or so when the older child is needing to access to the computer for actual work there will be fights and scheduling conflicts with the younger child who will want it for games.

As to which type of set up to get...the type of homeschool curriculum you ultimately choose will help you decide. Personally, a lap-top has been the best for us. As I said, with our curriculum, our kids were required to write 3-4 papers/reports a year beginning in 2nd grade. You need a good keyboard to type well and it is portable.

Get both the Leap-pad and a real lap-top computer. You'll be glad you did.

UPDATE: I agree with Riley about the separate workstations if it is feasible. As I said, as the kids will probably have schedule conflicts with one computer as their curriculum requires more papers etc. So if you can plan ahead, prepare to buy two laptops.

We have the kids desk top computer in the living room. It is never in use without at least one of us supervising. Even though my grandson cannot read yet there is still the chance some page might be what we want him to see.

We also have the icon for their home page as the item they click on to get online. That way her's going to Barbie.com and his goes to lego.com. They both get to use the computer but do have to take turns.

We will do 2 separate computers, both still in the living room, in a year or two. I fully believe that if everyone's computers were in full sight of everyone is the home that lots of places and activities that are done online, well, those would limited due to the probability of getting caught.

Which ever you decide. I'd also suggest you buy the extended warranty!

:)

Watch your child carry things around the house, see what they bump into, see what they drop pulling thing off of surfaces then ask yourself if they are old enough for a portable.

What you are going to find is they set them on their beds and then forget they are there, knock them off and these things are delicate.

My kids were relegated to the desk top until they were ten. They were allowed to use my portables but had to give them back when they were done.

One thing to consider is even a desk top is portable. It is only limited to where you have a plug as long as you have a wireless card and if they don't come with that they are cheap to put in yourself.

Everything in our home is wireless, not limiting at all.

I really like what JL says here. She is so right about a 5 year old being too young for a lot on the computer.

Children this age need manipulatives and books and paper to learn to write on. What you don't want to do is use a computer for homeschooling more than they would at school. Computer use doesn't use 3 dimensions and that's how children learn a lot of things they need to learn.

Computer work will be there - for many years to come.

Dawn

Ditto JL. She made a lot of good points.

We went the hand me down laptop route... Until kiddo could save up for half of his own for a new one.

Something irritating, though, is that most of our favorite education games (Cluefinders, Carmen San Diego, etc.) don't RUN on newer macs (and I check every 6mo, but no updates)

For US the laptops were invaluable, because we could take them anywhere: cars, hotels, boats, eyc (I don't know why it's called homeschooling, when we're almost never home!). Heck, even at home, it's schlepping outside for a sunny day, or school at the park.

I think ANY of your options will work... With one caveat... Even if it's a dinosaur.. One for EACH kid. I had an only, do it was easy... But nearly every other HS family I know with many kids went through hell 'trading', because the motivation to work is often simultaneous. Problem solved once each kid had their own workstation.

LeapPad will be outgrown
A computer will not.
That is the bottom line.

I also suggest, whatever computer you get, get a MAC.
It is very user friendly, kids learn it easily, and it is intuitive.
Schools, use MAC computers for this reason.
And there are many good software, for kids per MACs.

My kids are 5 and 9.
Ever since they were Toddlers, they have just used what we have.
ie: Desk top computer (MAC), laptop (MAC), iPad, iTouch etc.
And they are very adept at it.

It also depends on your child's fine-motor skills and dexterity... per using a Laptop etc.

I would NOT buy a LeapPad.
I would buy, a MAC computer for them.

Now, as far as them BOTH using the computer at the SAME time.... no. I wouldn't even want to use the computer at the SAME time as my Husband. A child, will need to take turns. And there will be and may be, "fighting." That is just a given.
The 3 year old is also very developmentally and cognitively different, than a 5 year old.
One kid could be using the computer, while another kid is using an iPad.

My kids, from Toddlers, could use our computers. We taught them how.
And they use our iPad too.
In school, per my 5 year old son, they had even in Kindergarten, "computer class." With MAC computers. He is now in 1st grade, and the school has MAC computers and the iPads for the kids to learn on.

If you get a Laptop, I would get a mouse attachment. Then they don't have to use the finger pad... which is harder for some young kids.

I recommend a laptop. One for each kid if you are able, eventually.

We got our daughter a laptop for Christmas when she was 4. It has been great that she can play on different kid educational sites, plus she can watch Netflix or DVDs on it. A lot of games & software are going to need a CD drive to load them - tablet won't do that.

With the laptop she can Skype with Daddy anytime he is away with the Army (we used it that Christmas morning for him to watch her open her presents while he was deployed). And the laptop should be able to last her a while.

Our kids have used hand-me-down laptops. I wouldn't buy anything expensive, that's for sure. My oldest wasn't really on the computer until mid-Kindergarten (so about 5.5 years), but once she started using it, little sister (then 2) wanted in on the action, of course. Now that they're 7 and nearly 10, they can be trusted to use our MacBook Pro, and they take good care of it. Still, they mostly use it for school work and under our supervision.

What we've actually found more useful for both kids has been the iPod touch. It's much more portable for small hands than an iPad, and is great for the car, airplane, hanging out at home, etc. They even have movies loaded on there. We've actually found the iPod touch to be fantastic (and a lot cheaper than an iPad). Just a thought.