First Grade Techies

In the last two years, the average age at which kids begin using consumer electronic devices has dropped dramatically from 8.1 years to 6.7 years according to a new report from The NPD Group. At this rate, the instruction manuals for these new devices might soon be written by first graders :-). That might be a good thing for adults!

Kids begin using the TV and computers as young as 4 or 5 years of age with cell phones, digital cameras and other devices skewing a few years older. All this should come as no surprise to parents—many who probably get assistance from their elementary-age children to operate the advanced features of these new devices.

The NPD press release says: “Kids are drawn to the latest and greatest digital devices just as their parents are. They appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives.”