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My son is a little behind going from 1st to 2nd grade and all of the school resources pointed to Windows-based programs, such as those from superduperinc.com. But those are only Windows/MAC compatible.
I'm just starting to look around for Ubuntu (10.4) and wanted to ask a few questions because while there are a ton of different types of programs, I know that kids learn in different ways and the info online is over-whelming.
Have you found a reading package for Linux that was helpful for your child (age 7)?
Were there any programs (Linux or otherwise) that you would not recommend?
I had that issue as a child. It took my mother to sit with me & read out loud through the official school books. She taught me to read in like 5 minutes. I didn't know how to read until she showed me. I was in first grade. The teacher thought I just knew the particular book I was reading but was given something else and I read that out loud too. I think this requires a child-parent bonding experience.
1. Computer games should only be allowed after children have taken care of other responsibilities. For example, parents
are strongly advised to set a rule that video games can only be played after homework has been completed (and completed
with effort).
2. To prevent computer addiction from taking hold and to regain control after it has been established, computer games
should be played no more than one or two hours per day - especially during the school year. Specific age-appropriate
guidelines and recommendations can be found in the downloadable book "How To Help Children Addicted to Video Games".
3. Children addicted to computer games will happily play for hours at a time. Although this can provide valuable free
time for busy moms and dads, parents need to make sure that computer games are not their child's primary activity or
form of entertainment. Decades ago, parents were warned about using television as a babysitter and the same advice now
applies to computer games. It is absolutely critical to set and enforce firm daily limits as described in point # 2
above.
4. Access to computer games should be viewed as an earned privilege, not an automatic right.
5. Regardless of who "pays" for the computer game, parents should always have final approval of any game that enters the
home. Sometimes parents believe that if the child has earned his or her money (or even if it is an allowance) they
should be free to spend it on whatever they like. Incorrect. Children addicted to computer games very often prefer the
more mature games (violent first person shooters, online role playing games) that should have never entered the home in
the first place. Parents should become very family with ESRB ratings and prescreen all potential purchases. Doing so
would almost certainly reduce the number of children addicted to computer games.
6. Related to the last point, if parents have children addicted to computer games, it is not enough to just know the
ESRB rating of a potential game purchase. Traditional reviews for virtually any computer game can be found here and
games reviews and buying advice specifically for parents can be found at Common Sense Media.
7. If it is possible to do so, dedicate one computer for homework only and one for gaming (if this is still permitted in
moderation according to your rules). On the work computer, there should be no games installed, social networking sites
like Facebook should be blocked, and gaming websites cannot be accessed. Therefore, when your child is using this
computer, you can be reasonable confident that he / she is working and not spending time playing computer games. *
8. Keep computers and consoles out of a child's bedroom. It is much easier to limit computer gaming (and monitor online
activity) if computers are in open spaces or family rooms. To help children addicted to computer games this is perhaps
the very first step parents should take.
9. One helpful tool for dealing with children addicted to computer games is the "Parental Control" settings that are
present on all modern game consoles. These password protected options usually allow parents to control what their
children play and how much time is allotted. On the PC side, access to specific games as well as specific time limits
can be set via 3rd party software solutions. Make sure you learn how to set these options - they can be very helpful for
helping children addicted to computer games.
10. Consider a ban on MMO or MMORGP games (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) in your home. Even if the
ESRB rating is within your child's age range, these games are thought to have a much higher risk for addiction than
other genres and should not be purchased if you worry about your child becoming addicted. See "Why Are Video Games
Addictive?" for more information.
Maybe it can help you to have computer / gaming limitations, based on above list.
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