I promised my kid they’d get a laptop when they learn to read well enough.

This turned out to be a good motivator and they can now read full books.

The kid likes competitions and challenges. I would like to come up with tasks they can learn to do with the laptop.

The reason I want my children to have access to a computer specifically, is that while TVs and phones are used to consume, computers are used to create.

I will be installing some Linux flavor on this machine, as it is a bit dated.

I was thinking about things like:

  • Write a short story
  • Install a graphics editing program
  • Draw a picture of a cat

To get them started.

Probably I need some easier ones first.

  • Seefra 1@lemmy.zip
    8·
    14 hours ago

    You can make an image of the / drive so it’s easier to restore if they break the system.

    I you can slowly teach them to use the command line, if they can read fluently using the cli shouldn’t be that hard. You can teach them the basic commands, and teach them to install a program with apt.

    Also, you said write a short story? The teach them vim (or emacs if you prefer that).

    You can install vmpk (or some other music keyboard emulation program) so they can play some music. And if they get more interested get them LMMS and later ardour + advanced stuff.

    Krita is a super nice program to draw, and colour (tho no fun without a drawing tablet), maybe you can teach them vectorial drawing on inkscape. And if they like it then install Blender and go 3D.

    • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
      4·
      13 hours ago

      Teach them to launch Vim, and they can spend their remaining computer use time using Vim.

      Unless they figure out how to exit vim, then please have them come teach me how.

      Sorry. I will see myself out.

    • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
      2·
      13 hours ago

      You can make an image of the / drive so it’s easier to restore if they break the system.

      That’s good advice. I always meant to do that with computers my kids access.

      Although I haven’t ever had my kids break a Linux Mint install. I set them up as non-sudo users and that was enough.

      Of course, they grew older and have sudo now, so I should actually think about taking a drive image, now.