If you’ve read this blog before, you know I used to be an elementary school computer teacher for first through sixth grade. One of the skills I insisted that my students learn is touch typing. They didn’t have to master it, but they did have to try. The earlier a child learns to touch-type, the easier it is for them to complete their work without distractions as they get older. They don’t have to take their eyes off the page they are typing if their muscle memory tells them what buttons to push.
I introduced the concept of touch typing by closing my eyes and asking the children to tell me what to type. (Expect to type some silly things if you try this at home!) Young children in first or second grade were surprised I could do it, and older kids in fifth and sixth grade were amazed at the speeds I could reach typing when they intentionally talked faster and faster. Of course, with such a fun introduction, they wanted to try it, too, but were frustrated at the QWERTY keyboard layout.
When I discovered the Chester Creek Keyboard LessonBoard, I knew I found the best tool to help kids learn to type. There are a lot of children’s computer keyboards on the market, but this one is different because it is color-coded to match the fingers used for each letter. For example, the keyboard is blue where the index fingers are used, yellow for the middle fingers, green for the ring fingers, red for the pinky fingers, and purple for the thumb (spacebar). Look at pictures of other children’s keyboards and you will see that the most differentiation is between vowels and consonants. That’s a start, but it doesn’t tell the children where to put their fingers like this one does.
Computer Compatibility
The keyboard is configured for Windows computers (includes a backspace key and a few other differences) but it works on Mac operating systems as well.
Tested in an Actual Elementary School Computer Lab
The difference in children’s willingness to try to touch-type before and after we introduced this keyboard at my former school’s computer lab was night and day. Before, all of the keys were black and the children were frustrated trying to remember where to put their hands. Afterwards, it was intuitive for them to place their fingers in the right place, and the children were easily able to help each other.
An unexpected benefit of the keyboard is helping the children find letters on the keyboard. If a child said, “where’s the U?” all I would have to do is say “right hand, index finger in the blue and move up.”
Highest Recommendation
The LessonBoard exceeded all of my expectations. I would even go so far as to say that if you want to teach a child how to type, either at home or at school, this is the easiest way to avoid stress, tears and arguments. Use it with Dance Mat Typing, a free typing program, and you’re well on your way to having a child who can type with ease.
Disclosure: I paid for my own keyboard for home use, and my school purchased the keyboards for the computer lab. Since I like it, I have included an affiliate link in case readers want to buy one.
