After reading this post, I downloaded PixelWhimsy so that Miriam could give it a try. I wasn't very impressed, but she seemed to like it, so maybe we'll play with it some more. I didn't check to see whether it disables the power button, which seems to be her biggest lure.
Regarding this business about real gadgets marketed to young children, High/Scope, one of the more serious high quality preschool curricula out there, has as one of its parameters that clothes and cookware and other classroom toyes be the real thing -- so, the children are supposed to dress up in adult clothes rather than kiddie versions of adult clothes, or cook with real pots and pans. I can't tell you what the theoretical reasoning is for this (assuming there is any).
Hi, I'd like to get more of your ideas for making PixelWhimsy better. What about it didn't impress you and what would you like to see that would impress you as a parent?
In the next version, I plan to disable the power and sleep buttons as well as the CD Drive button.
-e
Glad to hear you are planning to disable the power and sleep buttons.
Actually we've used PixelWhimsy a lot more since I wrote this post, and I would say that both Miriam and I have really enjoyed it. The main thing that bugs me about it at this point is that Miriam (who is only 13 months, btw) bangs on the keys and occasionally the program has crashed or the computer has shut down. This surprised me because I didn't think it would be possible. But we're still using it!
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