How young is too young? - When to expose kids to technology?
linuxlock.blogspot.com
linuxlock.blogspot.com
Computers for the young, like sugary cereals, should be part of a greater life expeiernce that includes interacting with friends in person, reading, making music, and causing trouble.
Basically, If your kid is playing too much farmville, turn off the internet and kick them outside. It is as you say, when you are young, you need to experience everything, even causing trouble.
Seriously though, kids seem to have done pretty well against the onslaught of new ideas and concepts that have been doomed to corrupt them. I was exposed to computers almost as an infant, and it didn't stop me from getting into all kinds of trouble.
But letting Farmville raise your children is an issue for that reason alone - computers aren't parents, and neither is a television. As the author stated, actively participating with and encouraging a child's desires and inquisitive nature is what is most important.
We used/played with computers Together. They weren't raised by them. First we sat in front together and played Hugo mystery games. Later we put all the computers on a round table where we could see one another, play cooperative games, talk and socialize.
One boy is an Army Ranger. Another is in graduate school CS at CMU. The 3rd is competing on cello at ASTA nationals.
The computer was an incidental part of their growing up, like the blender or the car. And TV is lots more corrosive - none of my boys watch TV much, too boring, you can't interact, plots are moronic and predictable.
Anyway, no there is no 'too young'. Its all in what you do with them.