Families Use Computers, Internet for Children's Learning
The most common reasons parents cite for buying home computers are children's education (36 percent) and business use (27 percent). Likewise, parents cite education (45 percent) as the most common motivation for their children to use the Internet from home.
Children ages nine to 17 themselves confirm that education is the single-most common main use of the Internet at home; 48 percent cite this as the main use, followed by e-mail (32 percent). Education also figured prominently in reasons for children's increased Internet use.
Forty-three percent of nine- to 17-year-olds who use the Internet in their schools believe the Internet has improved their attitude toward school, including 17 percent who say it has improved their attitude a lot. The Internet has had a strong positive effect on school attitudes among a broad range of children, including low-income nine-to 17-year-olds, children in large families, children in single-parent households and African-American children.
Education continues to be the single-most common "main use" for the home computer, parents report. In fact, families are using their computers for education even more than they thought they would. While 36 percent bought household computers for their children's education, 45 percent actually are using it for that purpose now. Internet use has become the second-most common main use of the home computer, cited by 33 percent of parents.
