Typing Software

Is it really so important that young children learn to type? Don't kids in the 90's learn to type naturally, while using the computer? So much time is being spent on the computer these days, that physical health and safety must be considered. If you are anything less than a touch typist (never looking at the keyboard,) you are putting too much stress and strain on your body. Just the slight up and down motion of the eyes and head over a period of time can cause serious damage. The hunt and peck method is not only inefficient, it is unhealthy!

Learning to type also opens the world of writing for some children. It can expand their creative horizons by allowing them to express themselves easily, and can also alleviate the frustration some children find when writing manually. Many children find the physical task of writing not only frustrating, but actually painful. Children who are dysgraphic have an especially difficult time with the writing process. They may overcome this, but in the meantime, learning to type may allow them to express themselves in an easier manner. Learning good typing skills allows children to focus on the product rather than the process

The best time to teach a child to type is when they are young enough to not balk at your suggestion, and old enough to sit with a program for more than fifteen minutes. Typing is something which requires hours of practice. While the programs available make the process more enjoyable, it is still a process which requires practice. Your child must also understand the need to learn typing skills before this activity will mean much to them.

There are a myriad of typing instruction programs currently available. How do you wade through each of these titles and find the best one for your family? Unfortunately, there may not be one best program for your household. Chances are you will want one for the younger children in your family, and another for the teens and adults.

For older teens and adults, there are really only three quality choices. For people who like a more sedate atmosphere, I recommend Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9.0. Ironically, this is also the program with the widest array of typing games. For teens who like a faster paced environment, Typing Instructor is one of the best around. The travel theme will appeal to teens and those wanting a less 'school room' look. The games are very good, but not quite the quality you will find in Mavis Beacon. Typing Tutor Platinum is a good choice for those who are just learning to type. A new instructional module (CETM) slows the instruction down substantially, and teaches one finger at a time. This would be my first choice for a teen or adult who really knows nothing of the keyboard and wants the best 'instructional package.'

The more time people spend on the Internet, the more likely it is they will learn to type in complete words, rather than one letter at a time. In chat rooms, your typing becomes an extension of your voice. For those who know they are full word typists, and just want to increase speed, my best recommendation is Typing Tutor Platinum or Typing Tutor 7.0. Here you will find the emphasis on typing real material. New typists might find this whole word emphasis frustrating, and will opt for the CETM module within this program, Mavis Beacon, or Typing Instructor. Both Mavis Beacon and Typing Instructor allow you to type real literature etc., but they will also walk you through the foundations of typing. Mavis Beacon also contains the most comprehensive ergonomics section.

Games are important to many folks, and they want them in their typing tutorials. Mavis Beacon contains the best selection of quality games, while Typing Tutor contains the most disappointing set. Typing Instructor falls somewhere in between. This brings up a good point. While the games are a fun break, they have questionable value. Unfortunately in order to learn to type, you need to type! Some of the arcade games distract your eyes from their natural movement. Establishing good eye movement is essential. Strict arcade games may be an actual detriment. The games included with Mavis Beacon are the best, and keep eye movements most natural.

The short-list of adult and teen programs:

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 9.0- Great choice for people who like a quiet atmosphere. Great arcade games and solid instructional methods. Typing Instructor 9.0- Will appeal to teens more than Mavis Beacon. Games not as good, but theme more appealing than the school setting of Mavis Beacon. Typing Tutor Platinum- Good for the beginning typist. Slowest instructional method for new typists. Lousy games. Typing Tutor 7.0- Similar to Typing Tutor Platinum, lacks a few extras and sticks to traditional home-row instructional methods rather than the one finger at a time method found in the Platinum version.

Younger children need a different type of typing program. They may also need a different type of keyboard. Unfortunately, front-runner Read, Write and Type has gone the way of the dinosaur. If you purchased a copy earlier, this is still an excellent program. Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon and Pumbaa is the best program currently. It teaches typing in a very traditional manner, one letter at a time. In between lessons, your child will find a few fun arcade style games which reinforce letter placement on the keyboard.

For those who like computer games and nothing else, a few typing programs are available. Mario Teaches Typing 2 is an arcade style game which resembles the Mario games on the Nintendo system. Jump Start Typing is for younger children, but contains little in the way of typing instruction. The emphasis here is on typing games which reinforce keyboard knowledge. This is not a bad program, but will not take your child through the process as sequentially as other programs. Slam Dunk Typing is probably the worst of the bunch, but may appeal to an extremely reluctant child. At least while playing this basketball based game, your child will be learning where the keys are. Just don't expect any of these three programs to turn you child into a touch typist. KidBoard Coach is even worse, although it does come packaged with one of the more popular children's keyboards.

Best selection for littlest fingers:

Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon and Pumbaa- The best program for elementary aged children. Jump Start Typing- For the under 8 crowd a good choice, but not much instruction. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for Kids- Probably the only choice for preschoolers. Not an earth-shattering program, however.

The best thing you can do to motivate your children to learn good typing skills, is to show them what fun they can have once they learn! The best motivation for a skill which requires practice is an intrinsic motivation. You won't need to shove and push, your kids will want to use the computer. It will be an everyday part of their lives. For now, lecturing them on the lousy jobs they will have if they don't learn to function on the computer won't help. You can help most of all by showing them what wonderful things can be done on the computer once they do know how to type.