Local Mom Introduces Giggle-Bytes, a Computer Classroom for Youngsters

Five very lucky youngsters were thrilled to be introduced to mini HP Laptops on Saturday, during the grand opening of Giggle-Bytes, a new portable computer classroom started by a Scotts Valley mom.

"They learn how to use the Internet, email, instant message, through a really fun and interactive program. They become computer detectives, and they have a mission every day," said owner Robin Brooke of the program.

The software used is Imagine Tomorrow, and it is custom built for each lesson and tiered to fit each child's academic and technical ability levels. Although the program is new to Santa Cruz County, with Brooke the trained local provider, it was actually developed in 1991, by a schoolteacher, and is called Discovery Kids Puterbugs.

On Saturday morning, the first of Brooke's trial classes trudged through the rain to meet at the Skypark classroom, and huddled around Brooke listening to instructions before they got to sit down at their very own laptop computer just like their parents use.

"Are we going to bang on the keys?" Brooke asked. "No!" the five young 3- to 5-year-olds answered in unison.

Brooke is excited to teach small groups of children anywhere in the county—she'll come to you, and the program is effective for kids as young as 2 years of age, up to 8.

"The younger you teach them, the more skills they'll have going into schools. So when they're in school and they have to create a document, they'll know exactly what to do, they're already ready to go," said Brooke, whose children started familiarizing themselves with computers at around 2 years old.

"Computers aren't going anywhere. It's a digital age, kids need to know how to use computers," she said.

For more information on Giggle-Bytes or to sign up for a class, visit www.giggle-bytes.com or call 831-461-1088.