Should computer skills be taught in kindergarten?

The issue whether computer skills should be taught in kindergarten has been commonly discussed in recent days. It is an important issue because it involved the most valuable asset of a nation, the children. There are many opinions on this matter. This essay will consider arguments regarding obstacles on teaching computer skills in kindergarten and how to solve them. Furthermore, it will provide reasons why should computer skills be taught in kindergarten.

It has bees argued that teaching computers in kindergarten will burden the children psychologically. It means that by learning computer skills, the children will lost their time to spend for playing and having enough love from their parents. However, as American Association for the Advancement of Science stated in 1993, children are natural explorers and inventors, and they like to make things. School should give students many opportunities to examine the properties of materials, to use tools, and to design and build things. Activities should focus on problems and needs in around the school that interest the children and that can be addressed feasibly and safely. These needs can be provided by using computers. It can model materials, tools and building as the children need to explore. In addition, it is feasible and safe to use. People asserted that teaching computer skills in kindergarten will prevent the children from social activities with their peers. Since using computer needs to concentrate on the screen rather that talking to each other. However, by doing exercises, they have the chance to discuss with their friends on topics they are working on. Moreover, they can also teach each other on new kinds of knowledge that are someone has mastered first.

It is been maintained that human is a social creature and need to interact with others to solve his/her problems. So, it is almost impossible for human to live by him/herself. It is also claimed that computers will make human separated from his/her society. This will impact on someone’s disability to live properly. However, Chris Gathers, an experienced kindergarten teacher for 30 years in Fredonia, Kansas, stated that using Technology is one of the biggest and most exciting changes he has seen during his teaching career. He said that using computers is much more helpful than using manual tools like papers, pencils, etc. to teach in kindergarten. He teaches the children to use these tools: color, pencil, line, paint can, eraser, alphabet text, rubber stamps, moving van, and undo guy. Thus, it can be inferred that computers help human to make their work easier and not separate human from their society. In other words, computers can help human to solve his/her problems.

In conclusion, teaching computer skills in kindergarten is needed. This will support their future studies. Because the further they study, they will require more computer literacy. They will use word processors, spread sheets, statistics, etc as common programs used in their further study. The sooner they master, they will be more familiar with computer programs. This will keep them along with the rapid development of technology.