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A child's early years are a time of rapid development and learning. It is the time when their creative, social, intellectual, and communicational skills first start to take shape and research has found that technology can play a great role in a child's early development. While it isn't a good idea to set kids loose on a computer before they're 3 years old, the preschool years (from 3 to 5) are the perfect time to let them begin their relationship with technology.

Kids have many opportunities for engaging with the world of technology. Here are ten easy ways to introduce your child or class to technology in its many and varied forms:

1.Introduce them to the computer

Getting kids to familiarise themselves with a computer is a good first step on their technological journey. Let them get to grips with the keyboard, mouse, and monitor, so that they can develop some confidence with what, to them, may seem a strange new machine.

2. Teach them to type

Demonstrate how typing makes letters, words and sentences come up on the screen, and let the child experiment with their own writing.

3. Use the internet

Getting kids onto the internet at a young age is a good way to teach them how to surf the web safely and successfully. Supervise them as they carry out some research for a project and watch their curiosity blossom.

4. Let them e-mail other children

Technology has opened up exciting new avenues for communication, and e-mail is just one way to help develop kids' communication skills. Set up pen-pal relationships with kids in other states or countries and get them e-mailing each other regularly.

5. Get creative with graphics software

There are many easy-to-use graphics packages which kids can use to experiment with colour and shape.

6. Play with a digital camera

Introduce your child or class to the wonderful world of photography with a digital camera. Have them play about with the camera's many settings and let their creativity run wild.

7. Hook up to a printer

Why not print off their drawings and photos for a class project? Learning to use a printer is an essential skill that will benefit all kids.

8. Present with PowerPoint

PowerPoint offers stacks of fun ways to present information and graphics. Get them playing around with transitions and effects while they prepare a presentation.

9. Explore educational software

E-learning software can help kids develop their math, language arts, and science skills in fun and exciting ways. These software offerings often feature memorable characters and stories that the kids will love.

10. Experiment with audio recorders

Hearing their own voice can be endlessly fascinating for a child, so why not invest in an audio recorder and let the fun begin!

So there you have it. Ten fun and easy ways to let your child or class experience some of the wonders of technology. Not only will these activities supplement their learning, it will also improve their kids' confidence with computers, cameras, and other gizmos - an essential skill for learners in this our digital age.