Typing Basics

Typing basics teaches kids how to use a keyboard to make letters, numbers, and words appear on a computer screen.

Reading is good — doing is better. Practice Typing basics as an interactive lesson.

Definition

Typing means pressing keys on a keyboard to put letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation on the screen. Each key has a job, and learning where the keys are helps you type faster and more easily over time.

Remember the rule

Find the home row first, then reach for each key and come right back. Fingers go out and home, out and home!

Key words

Keyboard: The flat board with many buttons called keys that you press to make letters and numbers show up on the screen.
Key: One single button on the keyboard. Each key makes a different letter, number, or symbol.
Spacebar: The long bar at the bottom of the keyboard. Press it once to put a space between words.
Backspace: The key that erases the last letter you typed, like an eraser for the screen.
Enter: The key you press to start a new line or to say yes and go to the next step.
Shift: A key you hold down at the same time as a letter key to make a capital (big) letter.
Home Row: The middle row of letter keys where your fingers rest when you are ready to type. The bumps on F and J help you find it without looking.
Cursor: The blinking line on the screen that shows you where your next letter will appear when you type.

Worked examples

You want to type the word 'cat'. Which keys do you press?

→ Press C, then A, then T. The word 'cat' appears on the screen. · Press one key at a time and watch each letter show up as you press it.

You finished typing 'cat' and now you want to type 'dog' right after it. What do you press first?

→ Press the Spacebar one time, then press D, O, G. You get 'cat dog'. · The Spacebar makes the empty space between words so they do not run together.

You typed 'dgo' but you meant 'dog'. How do you fix it?

→ Press Backspace two times to erase 'go', then type O and G again so it reads 'dog'. · Backspace erases one letter at a time going from right to left.

You want to write your name 'Sam' with a capital S. How do you do it?

→ Hold down the Shift key and press S at the same time to get a big S, then let go of Shift and press A, then M. You get 'Sam'. · Shift makes just one capital letter. Let go of it before you press the next key.

You finished typing a sentence and want to start writing on the next line. Which key do you press?

→ Press the Enter key once and the cursor jumps down to a fresh new line.

You are not sure where your fingers should rest on the keyboard. How do you find the right spot?

→ Feel for the tiny bump on the F key and put your left pointer finger there. Feel for the bump on the J key and put your right pointer finger there. Your other fingers rest on the nearby keys in the middle row. · Those bumps are there on purpose to help you find the home row without looking down.

Common mistakes

Pressing keys too hard — keys only need a gentle tap to work, not a big push.
Forgetting the Spacebar between words, which makes everything run together like 'catdog'.
Using only one finger to hunt and peck for every key instead of trying to use more fingers.
Pressing Shift and then letting go before pressing the letter, which gives a lowercase letter instead of a capital.
Looking down at the keyboard the whole time instead of peeking at the screen to check what appeared.

FAQs

Do I have to type fast right away?

No! Speed comes later with practice. Right now the most important thing is finding the right keys and pressing them one at a time.

Why are the letters not in ABC order on the keyboard?

The keyboard layout is called QWERTY and it was designed a long time ago to put the most-used letters in easy-to-reach spots. You will learn where they are with practice.

What if I press the wrong key by accident?

Just press Backspace to erase the mistake and try again. Everyone makes typing mistakes, even grown-ups.

Do both hands have to be on the keyboard?

It helps to use both hands. Your left hand covers the keys on the left side and your right hand covers the keys on the right side. That way you do not have to reach as far.

How do I make a period at the end of a sentence?

Find the period key on the right side of the keyboard. It looks like a tiny dot. Press it once to add a period.

How long should I practice typing each day?

Even five to ten minutes of practice each day will help you get better quickly. Little bits of practice every day work better than one long session once a week.

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