How do you make OS9 Kid Friendly

[Strimkind]

I have a Tangerine iBook that I want to setup for my daughter.

Besides games (I have lots of those), what software exists to make the OS more kid friendly. I am hoping it will be enough to allow my 3 year old to use it without too much assistance.

Any software suggestions or hints would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[PowerPup]

You are probably looking for something like At Ease or Kid Desk. Kid Desk is like At Ease but gives a much more kid friendly environment.

Kid Desk Video

 

[Hrududu]

At Ease basically makes the Mac like iOS. Super simple for kids since you give them a screen with large buttons to push.

 

[BarnacleGrim]

I was hacking along quite nicely in System 7 at that age. But to get her started At Ease sounds like a good idea, then limited Finder and lastly full Finder as her reading improves. Kids learn these things very fast.

Edit: I remember OS9 having At Ease-like functionality built in, look in the control panels.

 

[Dog Cow]

Simple Finder? Should be a Preferences option in the Finder itself.

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Barnacle, you might be thinking of the Multiple Users control panel.

 

[Scott Baret]

You will want to use Panels in OS 9. Very similar to At Ease.

 

[LCGuy]

I second Panels - its built into OS 9, and you can set it up in Multiple Users. Very easy to set up, and very easy for her to use.

Re: KidDesk - when I was back in Grade 7 they put that on all the Macs at school. It barely allowed you to do really...anything. I graduated that year, and I think they phased out the Macs shortly after that.

 

[CJ_Miller]

My son has navigated my Macs well ever since he was about 5, which was when he was coordinated to use the mouse. I try to expose my son to multimedia apps which aren't too menu-heavy. Stuff like Spongefork, where you can draw squiggles which are rendered as audio. And Pixeltoy, where you can draw shapes and colors which cycle through a generative video display. Simple drawing and painting apps. Anything which gets him to interact and be creative rather than passively consuming books and videos.

 

[ken27238]

how about Kid Pix Deluxe? I still play with that a bit, its still fun to use.

 

[Strimkind]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will start with Panels and I will make sure to have Kid Pix Deluxe and other suggested software on it.

It will take time, but I hope to have it setup in a week or two.