What I love most about this thread is the though of all these young minds being let out of their finger cages! I learned to type at age 12, which was considered wildly early way back then, and I felt like a blind person who could suddenly see. Not that I would know, but that is how it seemed to me.
Then I remember getting to use my first word processing program at age 19! Wow! I could print out my paper, and find errors, and go back and fix them without having to retype the paper all over again. I felt like I could fly.
My spelling never really kicked in, as some of you know (thanks for putting up with me!) but in most places I can hide behind spell checker. Another step forward.
My son learned to type at age 9, and we went from being 'below grade level' at writing to really impressing people. Also it helped with his grade skip, because he was about 18 months younger than the other kids, and they had the stamina to stay up late doing homework. Typing well gave my son the chance to finish up his homework more rapidly and get the sleep he needed.
Smiles,
Grinity
