I wrote awhile back about an "Aha" moment I had around computer use and kids. I realized that much of the criticism and concern parents have about computer use is due to a lack of awareness about what a computer CAN do. When I first started using a computer in elementary school, software was limited. So, I wrote my own. The stuff I wrote was simple and would hardly impress anyone today, but it helped me develop a number of skills including problem solving and logic. More importantly, I had the positive experience of having a unique idea and seeing it come to fruition.

Today we have operating systems that shield us from the inner workings of our computers. Everything has a graphical interface (friendly buttons, graphics, etc.) so we don't need to think about what's going on behind the scenes. For many, computer use has become a passive activity where we're fed information and experiences without adding anything of our own. Even "educational" software leads you through a pre-determined path of learning. Of course most parents would rather have their young child building with blocks that staring blankly at a computer screen!

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. If you're a parent who wants your child to experience creating things, to explore his or her own creative ideas and to learn to make hypothesis and see them through, the computer is the perfect tool. You just need the right software and some patience.

I've started putting together a list of resources for kids (and teens!) who want to learn how to program. It's actually not that difficult to get started, especially for kids. They have a natural curiosity to know how things work and why. With these tools, kids can create video games, interactive artwork, digital story books, virtual worlds and more. They don't have to be "techies" or want to be software engineers. They just have to like exploring and trying new things.

I'm going to provide forum space for folks using tools such as those mentioned in the programming resource guide. Hopefully, we'll get ideas from kids and adults who use the software, or software like it. I'll try to post some project ideas now and again as well.

Please let me know what you think!

Clinton vs. Obama. Dr. J vs Dr. Pepper. Smartphone vs. laptop. You have an opinion and you want to share. Where do you go? BuzzDash!

Visit BuzzDash to vote on things you're passionate about, such as how many sheets of toilet paper to use. Then, register and create your own buzzbite (poll). You can submit your buzzbite for possible inclusion on the BuzzDash site or get the code to place it on your blog, MySpace page or other social networking site. The polls look snazzy. They can be customized with different colors and designs to help match the mood of your site.

The fun doesn't end there. Create a BuzzGroup and see how your opinions compare to those of your friends and family. Using BuzzCuts, break out votes by demographics such as gender, age, location and race. The results are hardly scientific, but who cares? It's fun anyway.

Other than poll creation, my favorite part of the site is the BuzzDash game. Choose your favorite categories to get started. BuzzDash then shows you 15 polls. For each poll, you choose what you think is the most popular answer. You get a point for each one you get right. I thought it was fun to try to guess what other people would be thinking.

Parents should note that the BuzzDash website isn't necessarily designed for children. Although the polls are edited for inappropriate content, I saw at least a few that were too mature for younger kids.

Ideas for using BuzzDash on your personal family webpage or blog...

• Naming your new pet
• Settling arguments between siblings
• Choosing a family vacation
• Favorite American Idol

Of course, you can always swing by the Family Computing forum, sign on and create a poll over there! Either way, let us know what you want to know.