at what age do you start teaching typing skills?

[muffinmom]

Now that computers are the rule and kids are using a keyboard before they would have used a typewriter, what age is ideal to teach them to type?

[Dana]

My son lives for gaming on the XBox, Wii, and computer.

I got Typing Instructor for Kids and got him started last month.

It's working well.

He still writes almost everything by hand but he was able to chat via email with his father and type it himself recently.

[muffinmom]

My son lives for gaming on the XBox, Wii, and computer.

I got Typing Instructor for Kids and got him started last month.

It's working well.

He still writes almost everything by hand but he was able to chat via email with his father and type it himself recently.

 

I see that your son is 7. That's encouraging. My son will be 8 soon, and he wants to write his own books using the computer, but right now he only knows how to peck out one letter at a time. I bet he would be HIGHLY motivated to learn! And I won't let him use this as an excuse not to do handwriting.:D

[swellmomma]

I am starting it in the summer with my oldest 2, they will be going on 11 and 12. Up until now I have not worried about it, but both are asking to learn to type faster so I ordered typing instructor for kids to start over the summer.

[Matryoshka]

I started my older two with Dance Mat Typing last year when they were 10, I think? Or maybe 9 1/2? Then my younger (then 7) had to get in on the act and did just as well as they.

 

Last spring I bought Typing Instructor and now all three type quite well (with no effort on my part!) My youngest just turned 9 last month.

[Dana]

I see that your son is 7. That's encouraging. My son will be 8 soon, and he wants to write his own books using the computer, but right now he only knows how to peck out one letter at a time. I bet he would be HIGHLY motivated to learn! And I won't let him use this as an excuse not to do handwriting.:D

 

The software has worked well for us. Ds was initially resistant when I talked about starting him on typing, but the program is game-like enough for him that he's done it without anywhere near the complaints I get with math or spelling. In a month, he's gone from hunt and peck only to using the home keys and typing a couple sentences without much double checking.

 

Handwriting will still be faster but only for a time.

 

(Just asked ds what he thought about typing. His response, "It's good. Fabulous even.") So definitely worth a try :)

[plansrme]

Summer between 1st and 2nd grades. Both of my girls did Mavis Beacon for 20 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, by the end of the second summer, they could type 40-50 wpm. I wanted them to learn before they started using the keyboard so that they would develop good habits. Their reward was an e-mail address in 4th grade.

 

Terri

[Pamela H in Texas]

I'd think 7-ish would be ideal. By then, they've had some keyboard experience (usually) and can go on to really use the computer for learning, especially if they are competent on the keyboard.

[ChristusG]

I'll probably begin somewhere between 7 and 9 years old.

[elise1mds]

Depends on their motor skills. My son has delayed fine motor skills, and while I am sort of starting to teach typing now (he is 7), I know it'll be a long process. I think he'll probably be closer to 9 before he really gets into it.

[muffinmom]

Summer between 1st and 2nd grades. Both of my girls did Mavis Beacon for 20 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, by the end of the second summer, they could type 40-50 wpm. I wanted them to learn before they started using the keyboard so that they would develop good habits. Their reward was an e-mail address in 4th grade.

 

Terri

 

wow!

[KidsHappen]

Children aren't born knowing this these days? :tongue_smilie:

[AnitaMcC]

Now that computers are the rule and kids are using a keyboard before they would have used a typewriter, what age is ideal to teach them to type?

 

 

My 3rd and 5th graders are using the computer for "writings". Ds#1 started using a computer in 4th grade for all his writings (it was put in his IEP). None of them have done a "typing program". They just do their own thing on the computer.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

After several false starts with my ds through the years, I think he's finally ready (and willing) now, at age 12. You really need both landmarks, the "ready" part and the "willing" part. Otherwise, you end up with frustration, sulking, failing on purpose, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. :D

 

My dd was ready and eager at 10. I didn't try any earlier, but I'm not sorry we waited. 10 was plenty early enough for her.

[Harriet Vane]

I started with dd at 12yo. Her brother was jealous of her "computer game time" and insisted on learning too. They both plug away at it now--from ages 12-13 and 7-8 yo respectively. Both are doing well with it.

[Satori]

I may be on the early side for keyboarding, just because we are so technical at our house. My daughter was trying to memorize the alphabet on her keys at age 4. Now that she's 5, she love to type random words and sentences when her games let her.

 

I wanted to wait one more year, if I can, and then start having her officially learn (if she wants to) when she's 6.

[tex-mex]

Used to teach K-5 grades as a Computer Specialist (when I stopped full-time teaching). We'd have the 3rd graders begin official typing skills with Type to Learn. We did use Type to Learn Jr. with the 2nd graders. But it was very limited time. By 5th grade, most kids were typing 55-60 wpm.

[tex-mex]

After several false starts with my ds through the years, I think he's finally ready (and willing) now, at age 12. You really need both landmarks, the "ready" part and the "willing" part. Otherwise, you end up with frustration, sulking, failing on purpose, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. :D

 

My dd was ready and eager at 10. I didn't try any earlier, but I'm not sorry we waited. 10 was plenty early enough for her.

 

:iagree: IMO, when I taught this skill in K-5 grades, it was obvious the lower grades were not truly ready for keyboarding. My 4th & 5th graders, however, were READY... I used a piece of paper taped to the keyboard (so the 5th graders could not look at their hands) using TTL and was impressed with the results. Younger kids were not ready to learn proper "homerow" hand position/finger key placement and they kept looking at the keyboard. Personally, I think Junior High is perfect to get them up to speed if introduced by 4/5th grades.

[Guest Virginia Dawn]

I start formal typing lessons in 6th grade. They have to type for at least 15 minutes every day till they reach 60wpm with only a few mistakes. That usually takes till 8th grade.

 

Now, if a child asked for lessons sooner, I would let them start earlier, but noone has yet.

[patchfire]

Dd wanted a typewriter for Christmas last year, so the rest of that school year, she did 10 or 15 minutes of typing two or three times a week, at age 8. She's not done anything further formally but we plan to have her work through Mavis Beacon starting in March or April and continuing through the summer - she'll be 10 in August.

[mysticamethyst]

With my oldest he learned to type out of 1st grade, Mavis for kids and small keyboard, he has dysgraphia, typing saved us. It was not fast at all but it was easier than printing for him. With the others I would say about 2nd grade as well but its hard to give an exact date as there were lots of jealous feelings so they would "play" with typing so they could get more time so the girls are probably earlier than that. I am not sure you can still find small child size keyboards but if you can I would recommend them for younger learners. Good luck with what you decide.:001_smile:

[homeschoolally]

You can use Read Write and Type as early as you're teaching reading. My 2 year old actually did a few lessons in it with my help...although he lost interest pretty quickly. I'd say around 4 would be an ideal time to introduce it if you use this software.

 

I agree with the other posters about other typing programs...they need to be much older for the typical typing approach. RWT teaches the letter sounds as is introduces the letters on the keyboard. You can probably find a used disk for less than $10, and I read that there is an online version now.

Edited February 2, 2010 by homeschoolally

[Mom-ninja.]

I plan on teaching typing starting at age 10.

[Jenn in Mo]

I think good penmanship is becoming a lost art and didn't want them to get used to the convenience of the keyboard before knowing how to write well, so I used Typing class as a reward for passing mom's penmanship lessons. We used copywork daily and worked on letters that needed more practice afterwards. Once I decided their penmanship was acceptable, they started typing with "Type Write" from Gentle Shepherd. At age 10 and 12, they just started typing lessons a few weeks ago. The 10 year old started before the 12 year old because he worked harder at perfecting his letters. This was a great motivator for the 12yo to kick it up a notch. :D