Anonymous wrote:OP, don't waste your money on a computer for your child, or on electronic games. My children are computer and electronic game-free, and guess what? They can entertain themselves anywhere with anything. They do art projects or make up games instead of asking to be entertained by some device. They also read a lot of books (the ones who can read). There's ZERO evidence that kids need to be exposed to computers early. Sure, they like them -- who doesnt? Computers are just another toy to a kid, but they are completely unnecessary and in my opinion keep young children from developing self-reliance and imagination.
WHile I agree that spending a couple hundred on a "toy" for the kids is a outrageous, I don't see the harm, at least for my DCs, in letting them play for a half hour on my old computer that would otherwise just collect dust. We have no TV, 5 bookcases full of books and art supplies galore. What I find amazing is that DC will build an imaginative creation with his Legos, draw it on paper and design it on computer. Yes, they don't NEED them, but it's not ruin their lives either, especially when the computer is just one of MANY creative outlets and learning tools around the house.
I also grew up with computers and I don't think it hampered my imagination...I come from a family of artists and am one myself.