Your kids are probably clamoring to use your computer. Computers present a truly exciting place for a child to engage in their own learning, both from the content accessed on the computer and its proper use.

Part of that means working with and monitoring our children as they begin to explore the computer and the internet. It also means teaching them how to use the computer itself properly, from the moment they sit down to the moment they’re done. The last part of the process – turning the computer off or putting it in standby – is easy to overlook, but it’s just as important as turning off the lights when they leave a room or cleaning up their toys when they're done playing. Doing so not only provides a great opportunity for them to learn a simple, responsible behavior, but it also saves on the electricity bill and helps Planet Earth.

Remembering to shut down your computer is tough, because it might involve navigating several menus to get to the right option. That’s why a team of students at Stanford University is working to develop a tool that will help our children easily shut down the computer when they are done.The interface is simple: simply click the picture of the sleeping moon and the computer hibernates or shuts down.

Ultimately, it’s up to us to teach our children how to use computers safely and responsibly. Add-ons like the turnOFFtool can help. Explain to your child why it’s important to put the computer to sleep when they are done using it, and then give them the tools they need to do it on their own.

 

Tristha Ramamurthy
Stanford University, School of Education

Amal Dar Aziz
Stanford University, Department of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction

Douglas Hannah
Stanford University, Energy and Environmental Policy

Jason Kaminsky
Stanford University, Business, Environment & Resources