What is the best I can do to help my mother use her first computer (netbook) and make the most of the internet?

Good luck! I live in the same town as my Mom and I am always having to run over to her place to see what isn’t working properly. She does pretty well with surfing, but I set her up with aol to give her a home base that is fairly consistent in appearance and easy for a new user to follow.

Go the local library and enroll her in a beginner’s course. It’s free. Well, in my town.

My wife and i were discussing this same situation about a neighbor friend that is green to using a computer. our conclusion was OJT. on the job training. reading books and manuals is okay, but having someone to demonstrate the use of a computer, would be our first choice. our neighbor is a woman and her husband is computer-wise. he would be an excellent teacher for his wife. will this ever happen? probably not.

I, too, agree with John Pennington that it is best for your mother to learn from in-person training.

Many places have classes just for seniors (at old-age centers, for example). She needs to look around or you can look locally online for her.

If she has a Windows 7 operating system, there are tutorials in the Getting Started section in the Start Menu

Been down this road, and thoroughly agree with @BoBo—get her to take class, preferably one specifically designed for older people. Even if you are a great instructor and lived in the same town, chances are she’ll take instruction better in a classroom situation, where students can share challenges and successes with their peers.

I’m with the others on the classes. It’s incredibly hard to teach someone how to use a computer “from scratch” at a distance. Look for class options in your area. There are some basic tutorials online if you Google “basic computer tutorial” and the like, but in-person training would be much more efficient.

Check with the library.

At least the one near me, has classes to help the geezers.

I still remember how I learned, about 12 years ago. Already having joined AARP, I started by taking a three-evening course on a PC at the local High School. We were all of an age, very nervous, and thrilled to learn how to play solitaire and then to each type a recipe to share.

Then I bought an eMac (desktop). Initially, the whole experience was very intimidating. What helped?

A senior in High School came once a week for about an hour to give me a lesson. He was patient, willing to repeat himself, believed in not overloading my system with too much information and was available for phone calls. He also pruned trees, turned compost and dug holes for plants.

The learning curve was similar to most other intellectual endeavors. Learn something, forget half, relearn it, and gradually begin to feel at home.

I can remember finding the language odd. What does “default” mean? Huh?

Then I found the Computer Tutor for easing into the more sophisticated issues. ’

Now, I have a really savvy guy, licensed by Apple, who comes over once in a while to do some housekeeping, solve some problems (today my printer – from 1998 – is printing in billboard-sized fonts), teach me some new tricks, and upgrade apps that I cannot do myself.

I was able to touch- type, I was always a facile writer, and I always liked reading dictionaries, encyclopedias, hanging around libraries and learning on my own.

Teaching a parent anything is not a good idea. Suggest that your mom call the local high school to find a smart and patient 17 or 18-year old.

I would respectfully note that online tutorials are very confusing for most older neophytes.

Btw, the classes here in our local library are very “hands on!”

Internet for Dummies and make sure she uses Firefox or Google Chrome.

Addendum; I did use the Dummies books, but only after I had graduated from first grade to second.

The new Computers for Seniors for Dummies looks good. It deals with both Macs and PCs.

Remind her often that she can’t make mistakes. If things go kablooie, all she has to do is push the start button until it shuts down.

@hawaii_jake Unless she lets a virus through!

All seniors benefit from Macs. They’re better for mental health, the central nervous system, overeating due to stress, and easily used for weight-bearing exercises.

@erichw1504 : True enough. Hmm, if she lives in a big enough city, then a regular visit from the Geek Squad might be a good thing.

What about using some sort of screen sharing software. I know in ichat you can take over someones screen (or let them see yours) and talk and even put a little video of yourself in the corner. I think Skype has the same functionality.

Thanks everyone great answers… I’ll refer Mom to the nearest school, I found one with an Internet course ;))

good…..