Disclosure: This computer skills post is a collaborative post.
Your kids are going to need to know a lot about using a computer, computer skills are important. We’re moving more and more into the digital, online age, and even though they’ve only been playing kids games and learning how to use a mouse up until now, things will catch up to them quickly!
Even if you’re not a proficient coder yourself, or you didn’t even have a Facebook profile until a couple years ago (and who even knows what TikTok is?!), you can still be the role model in this scenario. And that’s what we’re here to help with!
After all, why not start this kind of learning at home? And in that question, why not also ensure that your kids are learning the best need-to-know skills they can at that age? We’ve got you covered; here are a few top picks for the most often forgotten computer skills to show your children that’ll set them ahead of the curve.
Using the computer together is the best approach at this age. (Pexels Image – CC0 Licence)
Table of Contents
Formatting in Major Apps
How many computer programs do you feel confident in using? And we’re talking about the mainstays here; Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, etc.? Because these programs are the cornerstones of the modern working world – the amount of businesses and organisations that rely on these apps might just astound you! As such, your child should know how to use them, both comfortable and confidently.
Formatting a spreadsheet is one thing, but ensuring you can navigate an entire database is another entirely. Similarly, you know how to write a document in word, but do you understand all of the formatting tools at the top? Simply put, the more you use them, the better any work you do will look, and that’s an attitude your child could benefit from greatly. Make sure they have something to do with these apps on a weekly basis, if possible, and let them explore how to use them on their own terms.
How to Sort Through an Inbox
How often do you get emails? Maybe 10 or so every day? The average adult receives about 121 emails every single day. Most of which are related to business, and millions of emails are sent daily on a global scale. Knowing this, it only makes sense that your child should know how to tackle an email inbox! Of course, it’s going to be a long time before they’re going to have an email of their own, but with more and more education centres assigning work digitally and remotely, they may need this info sooner than you think.
So, open up your own inbox in front of them and show them what it looks like. Let them know you can set up files and filters to send important emails to the right place. Also make sure you talk about spam as well. Let them know that not all emails need to be opened. If they’re ever unsure about a ‘subject line’, they should come and ask you about it.
How to Keep a Clean Hard Drive – Computer skills
The hard drive on the computer is where most of your computer’s processes, as well as files and documents, are stored. And as an adult using a computer full time, this can sometimes be a hard concept to understand! In turn, it might be a totally confusing one for your kids to pick up on, which is why you should teach them about it when they’re young.
Now, this might be a boring subject for your child to wrap their head around, but it’s a necessary one. After all, the hard drive is important, but that doesn’t mean nothing can go wrong. Store too many things there and all the space will be taken up, and then the computer will run slowly and be incredibly frustrating. Your child will certainly understand wanting to avoid that feeling!
What Parts of the Computer Do
The computer is made up of many different parts, all of which manage a crucial element. But can you name more than one or two of these parts? Probably not – not even I can! Unless you’re a computer expert who likes to build their own PC, it’s hard to keep track of what computers can do and how the new upgrades released onto the market are beneficial.
Maybe it’s time to take a crash course of your own? Ten allow your child to root around inside a computer case to get them used to the setup? There are even PC building kits for kids, and children will love getting to put together a mini computer of their own. Once they’ve put one of these together, they may just be the envy of their friends.
Reading Anything at Least Twice!
And finally, teaching your child how to proofread is essential. They need to know that mistakes can be made at any level and/or age. You’d never want to send something off that you hadn’t double checked. It’s a great way to give them a sense of pride about what they do at a young age. It also ensures they grow up knowing that a sense of precaution is never a bad thing. Even if they’re the most energetic child you’ve ever met, you can teach them to read everything twice before doing anything. It’s just a great habit to have for life!
How much does your child know about the PC in the living room? It’s time to teach them everything! The computer skills above are often forgotten about. However, when it comes to ensuring your child is computer literate, they’re some of the most important. Make sure you know how your child is progressing in a technological space by taking charge like this; it’ll help them to stay safer and in the know as they get older and start using social media and playing online games.
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