Young Children's Attitudes to Computers and Computing

Sixty children in their second year of school were interviewed with questions about computers and their use. The questionnaire contained items that were considered in three broad categories: the children's ideas and attitudes towards computers, their ownership and experience with computers, and their views regarding the sex-stereotyping of computers and computer activities. The results revealed that the children had positive attitudes towards the use of computers and were able to describe and discuss the range of functions that they could perform. The children's experience was limited in both the home and the school context and it was evident that the boys in the study were more likely to think that their own gender were better at using computers than girls.