I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but so far getting Nefarious, six, her own computer has been a really good decision. It’s been hard on her having parents that live at opposite ends of the continent, but now that both her and her mom have computers with videochat, it’s as if they have a magical window that connects them like a wormhole collapsing the distance to nothing. This is by far her favorite thing about the computer, and it’s interesting to see how second nature using it all is for her… I suppose that’s no surprise since she’s been surrounded by constant computer use since she was born, so she instinctively knows what to click on to make what she wants happen. I was surrounded by computers as a kid as well, but for me, computers were a technological toy and something akin to electronic building blocks, but for Nefarious, and I suspect most of her generation, computers are first and foremost a means to connect people to each other, which I hope will steer the world in the right direction.
In addition to video chat, she seems to quite enjoy typing away in a normal text chat window as well — it’s all new to her, so it’s funny to see her type things like “thank you for sending me a smiley face mommy”. Her account is locked down of course so she talks only to her mother right now, but she seems to also enjoy playing chess online against anonymous human opponents. Speaking of chess, I saw a great car today that was covered in chess bumper stickers like “I’M A CHESS NUT” (get it?) and so on. Our latest chess “inventions” include a new piece called a “bulldozer”. The bulldozer replaces the knight, and moves in the same L-shape. However, as it is a bulldozer, instead of just killing the piece it lands on, it kills everything in its path (friend or foe), making the piece slightly awkward to use, but much more powerful. It’s been a good addition.
The other chess addition that we’ve made, that I quite recommend trying, is a “double move” variation of the game. On a player’s turn, instead of moving one piece, they get to move two. The restriction is that the two moves can not be interrelated. That is, they can’t bump into each other, you can’t move one piece twice, or you can’t move one piece out of the way to allow the other to move. Or, to put it in another way, you have to be able to do the two moves in either order. Give it a try — it’s surprising the subtle ways this changes the game.
We’re working away at Prisoner of Azkaban, the third book in the Harry Potter series right now. It’s a bit slow to get started, and since we’ve read them so quickly, the beginning is always repetitive as Rowling makes the story accessible to those who have not read the first two, but it’s starting to get good. One of my better childhood memories is having long books read to me, and I hope Nefarious will enter adulthood with the same feelings.
Other than that, I think I’ve got to watch Craigslist (which reminds me, I’m just putting the final touches on Backpage.com and Daype.com support to my search tool, and will post it before I leave on Christmas vacation) for some gym mats… I sometimes walk out into the big room to see Nefarious and Cassie performing stunts that could easily lead to a skull more cracked than I like!
Caitlin has gone out with a friend tonight, but I can’t wait for her to get back. Tonight is the night that we’ll hopefully confirm our Christmas vacation, so we’ll spend some time browsing through the discount sites and see what strikes our fancy! I can’t wait! Oh and next door band stress got worked out… They’re playing a show this weekend at the Big Bop, so there are a couple practises this week to make sure Saturday’s show goes well. It’s not the sort of music I’m into, but they actually sounded really tight tonight as they did their set, so I think their fans will get one of their better shows.
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16 Comments
This gives me encouragement for my partner’s child (5yrs), who resides with his mother primarily. We are looking at moving internationally, and he is very concerned that he won’t be able to keep in touch much with his son because the mother is place-bound. Sounds like a laptop and a chat function should be the way to go! I do it with my own family (they are living in the middle east for the time being, while I am in school in Illinois, USA) but hadn’t thought far enough ahead for a child using it. Cool, nice to think about. Thanks!
You won’t regret it, it’s really great for keeping someone grounded to family that’s not all in one place.
my kids love chess too and I let them change things as well. I’d love to know more about your fantsy pieces so I could teach them…I know they’d enjoy it :)
Oh and I have a suggestion for the mats…I think that a wrestling mat (the big roll out kind) would be a good base…and then whatever you add to it will help absorb shock. I was a gymnast in my youth and trust me as much of the shock as you can absorb will save the knees and other joints :)
Definitely get a mat!
After you finish the Harry Potter series, I highly recommend The Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, etc). I’m pretty sure Caitlin has the first book, if not all three because she’s the one that suggested that series to me in the first place. I can always send books two and three if you don’t have them!
https://www.countrystorecatalog.com/15-in-1-Game-Center/010_39190,default,pd.html That’s the chess (and more!) set I got for Alex this Xmas. He and his brother play, Dad used to and I may yet learn.
Super awesome that Windows is now completely living up to it’s name. I never use it in that capacity but if I traveled away from the fam I sure as shit would.
I’m too lazy to go back and post on it but the kids and I laughed and laughed over the mugshots. Then I spent at least an hour going to the site they came from and laughed summore. :)
His Dark Materials is a pretty amazing series, i liked them much better than the HP books, but they are a bit darker.
what about those puzzle-piece looking mats you can get from walmart? the martial arts school i used to go to used those on our dojo’s floor.
Actually, that blue mat that you see in the picture is those puzzle mats. They’re nice, but they’re not going to absorb much force.
Thirding His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I, too, enjoyed them more than Harry Potter. They’re actually kind of controversial in that there are many religious overtones throughout it. Google all the drama, it’s pretty interesting. I’m sure you’ll both get a kick out of it. But avoid the Golden Compass movie – it’s full of bad CGI and glaring plotholes.
more like no plot at all Denise. That movie had so much potential to be amazing, and it just killed any hopes of ever seeing the whole series as a film.
The last book wouldve been epic.
and wrestling mats are expensive, but a lot of people sell old ones when they upgrade.
Yes the wrestling mats are spendy…but they absorb shock like nobody’s business.
I am insanely envious of all of the space you have! It looks like such a great place for kids and adults alike, with all of the areas for different interests.
I’d love it if my daughter’s grandparents were receptive to the idea of her using the computer to communicate (she lives with them, a fair distance from me), but they’re paranoid about online safety, and I can’t come up with a convincing argument. It sucks. I think it’s so great that you’re facilitating that connection with your daughter’s mom, along with general introduction to computers. Your parenting style, from what I’ve seen/read in your blog over the years, is to be commended – you’re doing a great job, and I’m sure Ari will have awesome memories of her childhood for the rest of her life. Kudos to you!
I’m all for giving kids computers with supervised access to the internet. My son is 3, nearly 4, and has had use of a laptop for a while now. It has helped him learn about things he enjoys as well as with his reading and spelling. Your mention of using video chat to keep in touch is what made me want to leave a post though. I travel for work fairly often and being away from my family is made a little less unpleasant by being able to see and talk with them while I’m gone.
I, too, agree that the Dark Materials books are excellent, but they’d probably be better for when your daughter gets a little older–I think I red them when I was ten or so and they were too dark for me.
The “Harry Potter Recap” goes away after the fourth book, so books 5-7 get started much, much quicker. They do get darker as the series progresses, as I’m sure other people have told you, but given how grown-up and savvy Nefarious sounds, she should be fine. Have fun with them!
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