Five Myths About Kids Writing with Computers

Fact or Fiction

What's best for your child: Writing or word processing? Discover how computers do -- and don't -- set a new standard for children's learning.

Myth 1

We can throw away the paper and pencils.
Despite the increasing use of computers in elementary schools, there hasn't been a decrease in the formal teaching of penmanship. Children use just as much paper as they did before computers became a classroom standard. Keep in mind that writing with a pencil involves an equally important set of skills as typing on a keyboard. Just try writing your name with your non-dominant hand to get a sense of the challenges a beginning writer faces!

Myth 2

Children need formal keyboard instruction before they can type on computers.
With traditional pens and pencils, scribbles lead to letters, to strings of letters, and, eventually, to coherent thoughts. Preschoolers start "scribbling" on keyboards, too. They press the keys to see what will happen. This leads to typing in a name and then other simple words. ACOT (Apple Classroom of Tomorrow) researchers found that "...even second-and third-graders became more adept users of the keyboard with no formal training... typing 25 to 30 words per minute with 95 percent accuracy -- more than twice as fast as children of that age can usually write." When children are older (starting at about third grade), they can use a structured keyboarding program to build their skills. The same key to success applies to both typing and writing -- and that's practice, practice, and more practice!

Myth 3

You need to buy special writing software for your kids.
While there are several terrific children's word-processing programs available, the word processor that comes standard on any new computer (Microsoft Works or ClarisWorks 4.0, for example) provides a great starting point. Your child can sit in your lap and press the keyboard buttons, taking great delight in creating, printing, and sending different kinds of documents. Just make the font large and let the kids play. You can also make a folder for your children's projects and watch how their writing develops over time.

Myth 4

Computers improve the quality of children's writing.
No tool can ever replace the creative mental juggling that comes with the task of writing. Computers do, however, give young writers more options; with a simple click, they can insert pictures or even hear their writing read aloud. These features can make writing more of an adventure, encouraging kids to develop the skill.

Myth 5

Spelling checkers eliminate the need for learning how to spell.
Spelling checkers are great, but kids still need to master this basic skill. The following lines are from a poem made up of correctly spelled words. Read it to anyone who thinks spelling checkers are infallible.

An Owed to the Spelling Checker
I have a spelling checker.
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks eye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it's weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl styles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.
Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker poured o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.
Be fore a veiling checkers,
Hour spelling mite decline.
And if were lacks or have a laps,
We would be maid to wine.
Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know faults with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.

A Healthy Balance

Computers are powerful tools that can enhance a child's writing through instant feedback, illustrations, and spell checking. But traditional writing instruction is obviously necessary, and it's here to stay. The facts are in -- a healthy combination of the two can provide the optimal writing experience for your child.

Reprinted with the permission of Children's Software Revue, a bi-monthly newsletter dedicated to helping teachers and parents find software.

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