Paints and paper are also an abstract technology, and time spend working on paper takes kids away from walking and other physical, outdoor experiences. Obvious

Paints and paper are also an abstract technology, and time spend working on paper takes kids away from walking and other physical, outdoor experiences. Obviously it can go too far, but most of us feel that painting and drawing and writing and reading have become part of the appropriate mix of experiences for children in our culture. Computers are no different. I do make sure my toddler spends almost all her time away from glowing screens, but I also remember that I first really got into computers over twenty years ago by spending hours with MacPaint. My daughter is growing up in a world where her parents work all day on computers, play on computers, and talk to friends and family through computers. She's going to be influenced by that, and I'd like it to be as an active participant and not just an observer.