My 2 year old is just happy to talk on the computer mouse like it's a phone. Not sure where I would start other than "daddy reading".
Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
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Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#32If I had the time (and I probably would because I consider it important), I would just go down the rabbit hole and explain the internet in the simplest terms possible. You press some buttons and other people around the world see the buttons you pushed and they press some buttons and you can see them too. With every new inevitable question, just keep explaining in terms the child is able to understand, and keep going…
2YO kids do not ask that because they are curious to know how the internet works. They could not care less about the internet. They care about their parents' attention.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#33A website where people post random stuff on. People supposed to discuss on topics posted but the discussion deviates in random directions anyway.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#34If I had the time (and I probably would because I consider it important), I would just go down the rabbit hole and explain the internet in the simplest terms possible. You press some buttons and other people around the world see the buttons you pushed and they press some buttons and you can see them too. With every new inevitable question, just keep explaining in terms the child is able to understand, and keep going…
2YO kids do not ask that because they are curious to know how the internet works. They could not care less about the internet. They care about their parents' attention.
Right. And the parent can take advantage of that to nurture their curiosity. Asking questions and learning (however little or even just trying) == having a good time with dad.
Making them associate that behavior of curiosity with having a positive experience is what I consider to be important here.
Plus, you also get to flex those brain muscles. Even if nothing seems to stick now, I imagine it does help them learn in the long-run.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#35If he’s seen a bulletin board with fliers pinned to it or if you put things up on the refrigerator with magnets, bring him there. Then hand him, you, and anyone around a stack of post-it notes. Explain to him that HN is a place where anyone can put up something to show people. If people want to respond, they can write their name + message and attach it to the posting or another post-it note. BUT it’s on the Internet! That means that anyone from anywhere at anytime can put up postings and post-it notes!
This opens up a bridge to him asking, “what’s the internet?” To which you now have endless possibilities on introducing your son to the wonderful world of technology :)
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#36"A place where people can leave notes to others that can also read them on a computer like mine."
No need to overthink this. Kid just wanted your attention.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#37My advice, as the father of a ten year old, would be to get off hacker news and enjoy every second of having an amazing two year old! It's a wonderful time and it flies by.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#38Tell him it’s how Daddy sucks his thumb
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#39If I had the time (and I probably would because I consider it important), I would just go down the rabbit hole and explain the internet in the simplest terms possible. You press some buttons and other people around the world see the buttons you pushed and they press some buttons and you can see them too. With every new inevitable question, just keep explaining in terms the child is able to understand, and keep going…
2YO kids do not ask that because they are curious to know how the internet works. They could not care less about the internet. They care about their parents' attention.
I remember at 2, I asked these questions because I was genuinely curious and a simple answer wasn't enough and a complex answer was too hard for my primitive mind to comprehend so I just endlessly asked why.
Re: Ask HN: How Would You Explain HN to a Two-Year-Old?
#40If I had the time (and I probably would because I consider it important), I would just go down the rabbit hole and explain the internet in the simplest terms possible. You press some buttons and other people around the world see the buttons you pushed and they press some buttons and you can see them too. With every new inevitable question, just keep explaining in terms the child is able to understand, and keep going…
2YO kids do not ask that because they are curious to know how the internet works. They could not care less about the internet. They care about their parents' attention.
It is possible for a child to want parental attention and also be genuinely curious about the world.