Laptops for Almost 2 and 3.5 Year Olds

The 'experts' include computer play in their limits re: how much 'screen time' (TV, video, etc.) a child should have everyday.

If you're into this type of parenting you'll want to watch/monitor how long they're playing with this type of toy. :)

My 2 and a half year olds are using real laptops and working on internet sites for kids. I ended up letting them have one of my hand me downs and then I bought a used laptop on Ebay for the 2nd laptop they can use. Since that time I bought a nice 12 inch netbook from Asus. They don't use that yet. But in a couple of years I'm sure I'll get a faster one for my daughter and they'll get that one. I would see about getting a real one :)

"Toy" computers, do not work real well nor are they like the real thing.
And... kids always prefer, the 'real' thing.

The older child will be more developmentally able, to handle tech things.
The 22 month old, will not.

Or get them a "Leapster." My kids had that from 2 years old. It is educational and has many fun games.

All kids, at a certain age like this, like to play on their parents "toys." ie: computer.
And yes, a kid could wipe out your computer.
They do not know how to use it.
But your 3.5 year old, can learn to use it.
My son & daughter, did by that age.
But I always still supervised.

My kids have had a few laptop toys that they enjoyed - having their own "laptop" that was "just like daddy's" - but, I agree with the pp's who said that it doesn't replace a real computer. Your kids will still bug you to use yours! I allowed my oldest to have some supervised computer time when she was about 2... my little ones (twins) were only allowed to use computers when we were at the library, until they were a bit older, maybe 3 1/2. My kids are now 4 and 7... they pick up the toy laptops occasionally to play with, but they get more from the real computer. All of the kids' TV channels - Nick Jr, Disney, PBS -have websites with cute, fun, educational, age-appropriate games.

We do have a Vtech (similar to the Tote & Go - but older model) with a mouse, which Iike because we don't use a mouse with our "real" laptop. I like that my kids can use the touchpad & a mouse easily.

Oh, and I think the games etc on the toy laptops will be difficult for both of your kids at this stage, but especially the 2-year-old. Expect a little frustration early on, until your kids find the games that they're ready for now.

I recommend keeping the 22 month old away from the computer for another 8-12 months. When our youngest was three, she was able to play the educational games and so on, but no internet. When they were 5 we bought them acer laptops. They're the smallest laptops they have. (13.5 I think.)

Just make sure you monitor how much they play on them. Our kids aren't allowed to have the computers or laptops until after dinner during the week, unless they need them for homework. This would give them, typically, 2 hours to play. On the weekends, I try to keep them busy so they can't play until after lunch. As long as they're running around and playing in addition to the laptops, and they're playing educational games, they'll be fine.

*hugs*

what about substituting old-fashioned games & activities to fill this time slot for them? They're both old enough to play many board games...as long as someone is assisting the 2 yo. Letter & # card games are also great!

My daycare kids get 1 tv show a day....& we don't always have time for that. I do have 2 electronic "computer" type toys....which are educationally-based, but from 10-15 years ago. They still work & are no longer on the market. Both are from VTech. But these are used as toys, not for learning. Oh, & I did have a Mouse Computer from VTech (long ago). It still works, but is very limited in it's application. I found the corded mouse to be very annoying.

Hmm, in the end, I just prefer hands-on activities which are interactive with other children. !!Sorry.....

We have a v-tech and a LeapTop. Both only hold my daughter's attention for just a very short while. She seems to like the Leaptop best, but neither one is "real" enough. My son handed down his old Clickstart computer for her to use. It does entertain her for longer periods, but she hasn't quite gotten the hang of the mouse yet and needs a lot of help to play with it. I remember it being this way when my son used it at first too. We limited his play time on it, but I think it helped him learn basic computer and mouse skills.

My son got a V-tech Buzz Lightyear laptop for Christmas last year, when he was 2.5 yrs old. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Vtech-Story-Lightyear-Spaceship-Lap...

He was so happy to get it, and there are a lot of games on there, but a couple things I don't like about it:
- the graphics. They're kind of like a digital clock, pixelated. there are no smooth lines and no backlight. So you could NOT play at night. I guess the graphics are kind of like those older car-travel-electronic games. That's the best way I can describe it.
- If you put something on top of it (in the closet, or on your kids' shelf), it will turn on with Buzz's voice. Then you have to lift the lid to turn it back off. Just annoying.
- There's no handle. The kid has to carry it with two hands. He's dropped it a few times. Nothing's broken .... yet.

What I do like about it:
- QWERTY keys. They're not in ABC order, but in keyboard order. I think it's important for my son to be able to find the letters in this order. He knows the regular order already.
- Lots of games. Number games, Spanish games, Logic games, ABC games. He's 3 now and some are still too hard for him to play like "Number order" or "Which one's bigger" or "Fill in the blank" ( R ___ T ) . He likes playing "Rock Paper Scissors" and games like that.

The electronic game he prefers to play, and will play with LONGER is the LeapFrog Think and Go Phonics. This: http://www.amazon.com/Leap-Frog-Think-Phonics-Learning/dp... We took this with us for the 20 hour drive to California and back (we didn't take Buzz). It teaches him better than the Buzz laptop. He likes it better. I like it better. There are headphone jacks. There's a handle. It's light. Bummer - it doesn't say that G says "g as in glue, g as in giraffe." It only gives the 'g' as in 'glue' sound. It does give the both sounds for A, C, E, I, O, U, Y.

If had to buy one for a friend, I'd TOTALLY buy the LeapFrog Think & Go Phonics. Now that I type that --- I need to see if they make a numbers one. That'd probably be great. Let me know if you want more specifics about either game. The Think & Go has 5 or 6 settings, sometimes 'teaching' and sometimes 'testing' your kiddo.

Oh and btw - My son LOVES to type his letters on my computer. And do starfall. I let him do so, as both of these games I mentioned don't have a blank screen where you can just type in letters and numbers.

A free hand-me-down dinosaur.

We started with the vtech Tote and Go Laptop Plus. The graphics aren't great, but the activities were appropriate at the time. Then we moved onto the vtech Nitro Web notebook. Both kept her attention and were good for long car rides. (Although the mouse was a little tricky to use in the car.) I would just check the suggested ages to see which would suit your kids better.
Good luck,
J.

My kids (3 and 5 ) FIGHT over my daughter "Leappad" It was NOT expensive a ($20 at Walmart) and you can sync it your computer so that it sings a song with your child's name and sends her personallized emails. its very cute and both kids LOVE it!
ETA I think its called LeapTop not leap pad