Laptop for a four year old – ideas?

Question

Hello! I'm starting to think about giving my 4.5 year old a laptop computer to use at home.I've got the hardware mostly covered - Any old laptop that I wouldnt feel bad if it got physically broken.I'm probably going to install Linux on it, and give him a clustter free desktop interface to access things I would like him to access.My question here is .... What are some activities I can set up for him in there?1. He likes to type out his name and numbers. So, I'll set up a text pad of some kind.2. He likes to colour stuff. I'll keep a paint like application so that he will get used to using the mouse.3. While at these, I would like for him to understand computer as a tool - that it works on battery, charging it, it needs to be booted up, shutdown etc, connecting periphereals.What else can I do? appreciate any ideas..Yes, I plan to keeping this setup for a while as he grows so more applications can be added.

firecall · Accepted Answer

Any reason an iPad wouldn't work?My kids first computers were:1) iPads - essential for YouTube2) Alienware Alphas + cheap 1080p displays on a desk so they could play Minecraft

zolbrek · Answer

You could start instructing him in the intuitive nature of Emacs.

RetroTechie · Answer

> What else can I do? appreciate any ideas..
Try harder to have your 4y old avoid screen time?
Play with their peers, construction toys like Lego, 3D puzzles (physical, not computer based), gardening, painting (using paint & brush, not an app), music, swimming, take kid out in nature or to zoo / musea / maker fairs & such... there's so much to discover & do in this world.
Electronics & computers have been in my life like 'forever', but I didn't start with that until ~8y.
Have your kid enjoy the "physical" world as long as (s)he can. Screen devices will come soon enough through other routes like school.

AnimalMuppet · Answer

Back it up regularly. It's going to die, quickly. It's going to get a lego shut in it, or stepped on, or dropped, or used as a baseball bat, and everything they have on it is going to be lost. If there's any data that they will miss, back it up.Think well about what happens after it gets broken. Do you get them another? Every time they break it? Or do you let them suffer the pain of no longer having it? For how long? There are consequences of any decision you make here, consequences that may shape them for a longer than you might expect. No way of shaping them is free from downsides, so think well about how you're going to handle this.

brudgers · Answer

The laptop you use together is the best laptop for your four year old.The most important thing you can do for your child is spend time with them.Good luck.

helij · Answer

I bought a second hand Dell XPS 13" (fairly new) and installed Fedora on it. I installed GCompris[0] and setup bookmarks for a few sites that they use in school as well. Seems to work well.[0]https://www.gcompris.net/

factorialboy · Answer

I'm sorry, but I feel a 4 yr old does not need a laptop.
What they need is: 1. Your attention 2. Other similarly aged children to play and socialize with 3. Exposure to nature, soil and sunlight from time to time
I know the risk of this being downvoted, but I feel strongly the urge to say this.

Laptop for a four year old – ideas?

Any reason an iPad wouldn't work?
My kids first computers were:
1) iPads - essential for YouTube
2) Alienware Alphas + cheap 1080p displays on a desk so they could play Minecraft

You could start instructing him in the intuitive nature of Emacs.

The laptop you use together is the best laptop for your four year old.
The most important thing you can do for your child is spend time with them.
Good luck.

I bought a second hand Dell XPS 13" (fairly new) and installed Fedora on it. I installed GCompris[0] and setup bookmarks for a few sites that they use in school as well. Seems to work well.
[0]https://www.gcompris.net/

I'm sorry, but I feel a 4 yr old does not need a laptop.
What they need is: 1. Your attention 2. Other similarly aged children to play and socialize with 3. Exposure to nature, soil and sunlight from time to time
I know the risk of this being downvoted, but I feel strongly the urge to say this.

Laptop for a four year old – ideas?

Any reason an iPad wouldn't work?My kids first computers were:1) iPads - essential for YouTube2) Alienware Alphas + cheap 1080p displays on a desk so they could play Minecraft

You could start instructing him in the intuitive nature of Emacs.

The laptop you use together is the best laptop for your four year old.The most important thing you can do for your child is spend time with them.Good luck.

I bought a second hand Dell XPS 13" (fairly new) and installed Fedora on it. I installed GCompris[0] and setup bookmarks for a few sites that they use in school as well. Seems to work well.[0]https://www.gcompris.net/

I'm sorry, but I feel a 4 yr old does not need a laptop.What they need is: 1. Your attention 2. Other similarly aged children to play and socialize with 3. Exposure to nature, soil and sunlight from time to timeI know the risk of this being downvoted, but I feel strongly the urge to say this.

Any reason an iPad wouldn't work?
My kids first computers were:
1) iPads - essential for YouTube
2) Alienware Alphas + cheap 1080p displays on a desk so they could play Minecraft

The laptop you use together is the best laptop for your four year old.
The most important thing you can do for your child is spend time with them.
Good luck.

I bought a second hand Dell XPS 13" (fairly new) and installed Fedora on it. I installed GCompris[0] and setup bookmarks for a few sites that they use in school as well. Seems to work well.
[0]https://www.gcompris.net/

I'm sorry, but I feel a 4 yr old does not need a laptop.
What they need is: 1. Your attention 2. Other similarly aged children to play and socialize with 3. Exposure to nature, soil and sunlight from time to time
I know the risk of this being downvoted, but I feel strongly the urge to say this.