@John L. Ries
My sister's children, currently 16 and 11 years of age, grew up using their own computers at home. They learned early and became productive with the tools of the information age. Both have active social network based activities and both use their knowledge of computer skills to further their academic achievements. It should be noted that both started using computers from age three on.
Personally, I'm glad they were spared the higher educational practices of using wooden building blocks, coloring books and crayons during their primary school years and grew up using "advanced tech" both at home as well as at school.
One final observation. I've been an iPad user from day one. I brought my one month old iPad to my sister's nine year old's last school day of the year. The school holds a neat outdoor games and picnic outing for both parents (and uncles), teachers and students. I let my niece use my iPad and I was somewhat amazed that she (and her friends) took to it like ducklings take to water. They checked their gmail accounts - my gosh, they were only nine years old - and played some installed games on it. They all demonstrated a sense of responsibility in handling the device - much to an uncle's enormous relief. The point is that these young souls have grown up in a different age than you and I did.
I say, let them use the tools of their generation rather than be saddled by the old tools of our generation.
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