News of The World

C's latest thing is the computer. He's used it pretty regularly from the time he was about 3 but in the last few months has completely embraced it, particularly the internet. He's very fond of Google and uses it on a daily basis for just about everything he can think of.

This morning at about 6:2o, I went in to wake him up and found his bed empty. I headed out to the family room where I found him sitting at the computer reading Time For Kids. He had already scanned today's New York Times and I believe he was headed for CNN next. The Mean, Cruel and Heartless Mommy insisted that he brush his teeth and take a shower instead.

Once again, I find myself wondering how this kid wound up with me. I never read any news on a regular basis until I was well into adulthood. While I wasn't uninformed, neither was I particularly well informed. C is not only pretty well informed, he's also quite opinionated. That part doesn't surprise me. :-)

Just like all the experts suggest, we've set our internet-connected computer up in a central area of our home so that we can keep an eye on what the "little" guy is reading and looking at. But while the experts have a lot to say about chat rooms, porn sites and instant messaging, they seem to be largely silent on the topic of World News for a Nine Year Old and his ideas about improving existing search engines.

What do your kids use the computer for? What do you limit access to and what do you encourage?