For the last month or so, D. and I have had a hard time keeping Alex away from and off of the computer. It’s not that he wants to do anything other than mash the buttons at high rates of speed, but typically, when dealing with computers, pressing random sequences of buttons brings about techy disaster. We’ve had enough of those in our house without the aid of a three year old “programmer.”
So yesterday I decided that despite my resolve to never ever buy toys unless it’s a birthday or Christmas, I was going to have to cave for the sake of sanity. Alex and I went to Walmart, found an adorable little “computer,” purchased it, and OH if the little man didn’t think he had hit the big time. He kept asking me, “Mama? Is it MY computer? Are we gonna take it HOME?”
I assured him that yes, it was his; yes, we were going to take it home; and no, this wasn’t like all the other toys he gets to play with while Mama shops in Walmart but then has to put aside at the cash register before we pay for our stuff. MERCIFUL DAY IN THE MORNING, he was going to get a toy JUST BECAUSE (well, technically because he is obsessed with computers and the other day opened up every single application on the laptop when his daddy’s back was turned for justasecond).
The child was totally unable to comprehend his good fortune.
And y’all, I’m not sure, but I think it has changed my life. I think that it is most definitely the best $20 I have ever spent in my whole life ever. I’m not even kidding.
Listen to this.
Last night, after his bath, Alex SAT ON THE COUCH (I repeat: he sat on the couch. He did not climb up on the arms of the couch and catapult himself onto the cushions and then roll onto the floor. He SAT ON THE COUCH) with his little “laptop,” and his daddy showed him how to play a couple of the games. The child was in heaven.
I guess part of his fascination is that he has long been wild about letters and numbers, and his new toy totally plays into that. When the voice in the “computer” would say, “Can you find the capital letter ‘B’?” Alex would reply with “OH! THANK YOU!” (grateful for the opportunity, I guess?) Then, when he’d mash the letter and the computer would congratulate him, he would clap his hands, scream “MAMA! I GOT IT!” and thank his trusty laptop all over again.
This went on for a solid hour.
And this morning, when A. got out of bed, he spied his computer on the coffee table, ran to it, told me he wanted to play letters, and then ran with his beloved new toy to the table while I unwrapped his PopTart fixed him a homemade breakfast.
I would offer you photographic evidence, but Blogger won’t let me.
Please remind me how thrilled I am with this new toy in about three days when I’ve been listening non-stop to the voice inside of it squeal “WHEEEEEEEEE” everytime Alex successfully locates the letter ‘T.’ Because that’s going to get a little old.
But a three year old who knows no greater joy than to punch in a letter or number in his “laptop” and then accept electronic congratulations as he claps and shouts with glee?
I think I can deal with that for the next, you know, year or so.
Mighty cute, the little man is.
***Now, with a picture!
Great Idea. I bought the v-techs for my kids at every age. They loved them. I never tired of the noise because they were learning. How sweet of Alex to have such great manners lol. wow I love technology.
My kids have a computer in the living room. I recently bought myself a very nice Dell xps laptop. I told my kiddos it was off limits because I have so much programmed in it. My son bugs me all the time to use it and I stand at a firm no Son alot.Your story about Alex and the computer sounds like me and my son. lol Good Job mom, Money well spent for sanity huh?
Personally, I think you should let him start his own blog and let him dictate to you once a week what he would want on it. He’d have hundreds of little 3-5 yr old readers in no time no doubt!
And, yeah, fabulous idea!
The Barbie laptop was our saving grace, yessiree! My little three year old is also obsessed with painting Barbies fingernails online.
Robin, is that you … our Robin? Fully rested after sleeping completely cocooned in Down??? Well you laugh about child blogging, but Ben is thinking about starting one for M. I’m so curious what she would blog about. :D
You make me smile every day! Thanks for keepin’ it real!
great!!! my son has his own “laptop” too and loves to get it out and “check his email” as I am reading mine!!! LOL!! aren’t they so funny?!? and by the way – love the homemade breakfast line — that’s great!!
Great post….you made me smile….even though I’m stuck at work today.
There’s nothing like raising children, I miss it.
Sounds like a new blogger- Mama’s Boo. Cute!
I had this same experience with Lainee and play-doh. I was in complete awe that she could sit still for longer than 5 minutes and do anything. After the play-doh fascination wore off, I got a lot of mileage out of letting her “wash dishes” in the sink.
A blessing, indeed, when we can find something to keep their attention.
Going to Walmart this weekend to find that computer! Cameron’s running around here with his daddy’s old cell phone and won’t put it down so I’m seeing some nerdiness and techiness in him already. If that computer keeps this child quiet and in one spot for an hour I’ll be sending you the biggest flower arrangement you’ve ever received in your whole entire life!
Yup, that v-tech company is wonderful!
How wonderful!!!
J and K loved it when Santa brought them a Barbie and a Hot Wheels computer one year. It shut them up, um, I mean really gave them a great educational experience – for hours!
Of course, now- in middle school, I didn’t get away for quite $20.00 on their new ones. For Pete’s Sake- what is so hard about WRITING a 5000 word essay, double spaced on college-lined paper, any-hoo?
Enjoy the fun, Boo!
We discovered Dr. Seuss for my laptop, but that ties up my laptop–so maybe we’re going to need to go on a little Wal-Mart run . . .
And I could just SQUEEZE him, he’s so adorable!!! He and Caiden would be a riot together:)
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your site!!!
You’re witty comments just make me want to go for a drink with you!
Okay, so, what brand is this computer you got? I have a 3 year old that would LOVE this!
And, honestly, since she is dropping her nap on somedays, I NEED this so I can have peace for an hour or so on the days she doesn’t nap!
Tell me your sources!!!
Stacey – if you click on the link up toward the top of the post, you’ll see all of my “secret” sources. :-)
Edited By Siteowner
so cute!!! i bet you feel all warm a fuzzy inside knowing HOW HAPPY you made your little guy!!
YAY! When my youngest, who is now almost 14 EEK!, was 4 I got him some workbooks to do, just so I could have a little peace of mind. I told him it was homeschooling, though a less likely homeschool mom doesn’t exist. Technically he WAS learning…at home, so I didn’t lie. Well what did this boy do but teach himself, literally, how to read. WAHOO! He would work 20 pages at a sitting as long as it wasn’t writing practice. So I say, go for it. Obviously A. has a hunger to learn and a heart of love. What a blessing he will be to the he someday marries.
This looks awesome. I hope no one else in my town reads your blog…’cause I’m about to go buy 3! :-)
What a touching post. I love to see kids excited to learn. That was precious how he said thank you.
That was a very good idea! He looks so happy sitting infront of his computer! I’m going to have to pick that for my little guy when he’s a little bigger!
Look out, Bill Gates, here comes your baby!!
I love your recipe for your homeade breakfast :). That sounds like a favorite at my house also!
Kristi from NC
What a precious doodlebug — and, as a school teacher, I HAVE to love anyone who will say, “Oh, Thank you!!!!” when asked to find a letter! Keep him excited!
EXCELLENT idea. My 18 month old boy has been making a bee-line for my computer all day. He slams his little chubby hands down on the keys, and goes even faster when Mommy is yelling “STOP!!” from the kitchen. Tomorrow, I’m going to get his sister’s Barbie computer out of the closet, dust it off, and let him at it. Of course, Daddy will FREAK out that his little man is playing with a pink girl-toy, but hey, all I have to do is set Junior loose on Daddy’s Mac, and he’ll think the Barbie computer is just swell.
I love your blog!!! It makes me miss Texas and my Texas girlfriends.
D2
I am glad that he loves his new computer. And may I just say that I thought I was the only parent who let her kid play with the toy in Wal-Mart and then puts it back at the cash register…..
My goodness! What a cutie – now I have a picture in my head of him saying “Hey Sweet Thing”
LOL
Hugs and happy holiday!
Oh, I want to get that for Lil Duck, he fights me for the computer all the time!
Sounds like a worthy investment. Does it count as a toy if it’s educational?
What a precious picture! I got married and had my first child while I was in college. When he was little, he was always asking me if I needed to study or if I had a paper to write. Everyone said I was turning him into a little geek!
He’s adorable. I love that he says, “Oh, thank you!” And I totally get the whole “beloved” thing. Don’t we all call our laptops Beloved as we stroke them fondly.
Just like his mama huh? And, I love the wireless mouse in the picture. :) Looks like you bought ‘top of the line’. Love it!