Q
We would like some advice on how to help a four-year-old boy in our early admissions class. He is frightened of computers and will not go near one if it is turned on or in use - in fact any mention of the word computer and he bursts into tears. We regularly take the class to the computer suite, but he is too hysterical to go. We have tried putting the class computer on in the background so he can see there is nothing to worry about, but his reaction is just the same. Living in a developing world we feel he should have the opportunity to experiment with technology. However, being unable to explain his fear, how should we tackle the problem?
A
Children cannot possibly learn if they are highly anxious and this four-year-old sounds overwhelmed by his feelings regarding computers. Yes, children nowadays do need to become computer literate. However, this boy has years of childhood in which to learn about technology, so it will be wise to let him keep away from computers until you understand what distresses him so much.
Talk with his parent(s) and get some idea of the source of his fear. Has something specific happened to make him so very wary of computers? It may be that he has inadvertently seen a scary image on a screen, or that he has been told off for going on a computer. Another possibility is that computers are new to him, but, if so, his emotional reaction is strong. He may have difficulty coping with anything outside his immediate and familiar experience. Use informal observation to build your knowledge of this boy's abilities and reactions and discuss the situation with his parents. Perhaps his anxiety about computers is just the most striking example of a more general wariness.
Your best way forward will be to reassure him that he is not going to be pushed into an activity that he finds unnerving. Look for ways to be encouraging about his interests and skills and help him approach any new materials or experiences one step at a time.
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