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how do I "lock" keyboard so daughter can mash the keys?

lord patton

lord patton

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 6, 2005
1,052
12
Chicago
I have a 13-month old daughter who is very interested in doing what daddy does... type on my Mac.

I'm willing to let her (and accept the risk of her damaging the computer). But is there a way to lock, or temporarily disable the input of, the keyboard, so that she doesn't delete files, switch apps, or install Vista?

Something that could be activated and deactivated with a keystroke or two would be ideal.
 
unplug it. that is to say, get a spare, and let her have at it. did that with both my boys (now 3 & 5) and they loved it. we would also sing the abc's and they would find the keys on the keyboard and sing along. good stuff, best of luck.
 
We tried getting a second dummy keyboard for my nephew when he was about 14 months old and either he made the correlation that he was pounding on the keyboard and nothing was happening or he didn't like that he had to use a different keyboard than everybody else so he insisted on using the same keyboard as everybody else. We even tried logging out of windows and letting him pound on it and he didn't even like that! But best of luck to you either way :)
 
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I think that's probably what would happen here. Cecilia might not know the difference between a functioning and non-functioning keyboard, but she'd sure know the one she was using wasn't the one daddy was interested in.

thanks for all responses, though.
 
lord patton said:
I think that's probably what would happen here. Cecilia might not know the difference between a functioning and non-functioning keyboard, but she'd sure know the one she was using wasn't the one daddy was interested in.

thanks for all responses, though.
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would there be anything wrong with opening up a blank word document so she could see the response of her mashing?
 
cheekybobcat said:
Let her smash it as much as she wants. Its just a keyboard..:D
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I agree, but it's the functioning of the computer I don't want her to access :D

Draddy said:
would there be anything wrong with opening up a blank word document so she could see the response of her mashing?
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That's a great idea (I just hope she doesn't cmd-TAB over to terminal).

killmoms said:
"Cecilia." :) Now there's a pretty name you don't hear too often these days.
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Oh, yeah. Her mother's doing ;) Since I'm talking about her, how 'bout a pic?
 

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If you're running Leopard, enable the "Guest" account and fast user switch to that when she's going to "work". When you log her off, the Guest account will go back to defaults.

If you're on Tiger, just create her own user account.

Either way, she won't be able to do much damage.
 
lord patton said:
I have a 13-month old daughter who is very interested in doing what daddy does... type on my Mac.

I'm willing to let her (and accept the risk of her damaging the computer). But is there a way to lock, or temporarily disable the input of, the keyboard, so that she doesn't delete files, switch apps, or install Vista?

Something that could be activated and deactivated with a keystroke or two would be ideal.
Click to expand...

Google for a program called Alpha Baby.
 
lord patton said:
I agree, but it's the functioning of the computer I don't want her to access :D



That's a great idea (I just hope she doesn't cmd-TAB over to terminal).



Oh, yeah. Her mother's doing ;) Since I'm talking about her, how 'bout a pic?
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Oh my gosh what a cutie. I had to reply after I saw her pick.

My concern is that your showing her its ok to smash on Daddy's toys. Not something you want to happen when your 1) not there 2) when shes older, and stronger.

I would go with the extra keyboard and tell her its her special keyboard. Even if you just get a junky PC. Because most of them are, haha, joking. But as she gets older she can use paint on it. But don't connect it to the internet. obviously.
 
lord patton said:
Oh, yeah. Her mother's doing ;) Since I'm talking about her, how 'bout a pic?
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Awwww, what a cutie! :D Man, those peepers are gonna be something else when she gets older. You'll have to beat off the boys with... well, maybe you can use one of the keyboards she breaks. ;)

One thing I miss not going to church is helping out in the nursery. Toddlers are amazing, really.

EDIT: I like how LeahM and I replied in ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME FASHION. I'm such a girl. :eek:
 
DLH said:
If you're running Leopard, enable the "Guest" account and fast user switch to that when she's going to "work". When you log her off, the Guest account will go back to defaults.

If you're on Tiger, just create her own user account.

Either way, she won't be able to do much damage.
Click to expand...

another good idea.

hanschien said:
Google for a program called Alpha Baby.
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Awesome! Viva MacRumors!
 
She's precious! I love her name, too. I imagine she'll be typing alongside you on her own (by then outdated) MB by age 5! I'm holding out for a photo of the "youngest Mac user" in action. :)
 
useful answer

I know its a damn old post but as it is the google hit Nr 1 or 2 for the search "lock keyboard on Mac" I thought I post a useful answer. Here it is: http://blog.boastr.net/?p=2452

(presented here: http://lifehacker.com/5884407/keybo...mac-keyboard-while-cleaning-spills-and-crumbs)

the great thing is that it locks the keyboard input but the touchpad stays active so you can read mails, news or even play a click and jump game while your kid hammers on the keyboard :)

hope it helps further generation of parents
 
4JNA said:
unplug it. that is to say, get a spare, and let her have at it. did that with both my boys (now 3 & 5) and they loved it. we would also sing the abc's and they would find the keys on the keyboard and sing along. good stuff, best of luck.
Click to expand...
Bit late on the reply here, but I was searching for a solution to the same question. Today's children are way too smart. LOL. I tried that with my grand-daughter. No dummy that girl. Sixteen months and she knew that the keyboard I gave her was doing nothing, and looked at me with utter disgust as if to say "Really?"
 
Back in the day we'd let the kids play with laptops that worked but no longer supported their desired purposes.
 
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