Each key is tinted by its finger: the two pinkies share a tint, and so do the two ring fingers and the two middle fingers.
The big ideaEach finger owns a column. Reach up to its number, tap, and come home.
How it works
The number row sits right above the letters, like the top floor of a house. Count the floors going up: bottom letters, home row, top letters, then numbers.
Every finger owns a whole column of keys, from low to high. On the left, the pinky takes 1, the ring 2, the middle 3 and the pointer 4 and 5. On the right, the pointer takes 6 and 7, the middle 8, the ring 9 and the pinky 0.
Start with every finger at home, reach up two floors, tap the number and come straight back.
Keep your eyes on the screen, because your finger already knows the way.
Which finger owns which number.One reach, step by step.
Example 1: Reach for the 2
Rest the left ring finger on the s key.
Reach up two floors to the 2 key and tap it.
Come straight back to s.
A trip from S up to 2 and back.
Example 2: Reach for the 9
Rest the right ring finger on the l key.
Reach up two floors to the 9 key and tap it.
Come straight back to l.
A trip from L up to 9 and back.
Example 3: Type 365
Type the 3 with the left middle finger.
Type the 6 with the right pointer.
Type the 5 with the left pointer.
After every tap, the finger comes straight back home.
Example 4: Type a price of 12
Type the 1 with the left pinky.
Type the 2 with the left ring finger.
Look at the screen the whole time.
Words to know
number row
The row of number keys right above the letters.
column
The line of keys a finger owns, from low to high.
reach
A finger's trip up or down to a key, and straight back home.
Watch out
Hunting for each number with one finger and your eyes on the keys is slow and tiring: use the column of each finger.
A finger that stays up on the number row has to hunt for its next key: come straight home after a tap.
The 5 belongs to the left pointer and the 6 to the right pointer: the hands split at 5 and 6.
The left pinky takes 1 and the right pinky takes 0.
Try it
Where is the number row?
Which finger types the 2?
Which finger types the 0?
After a tap, where does a finger go?
Answers: 1. Right above the letters · 2. The left ring finger · 3. The right pinky · 4. Straight back home
Try at homeWith a grown-up beside you, open a blank page and type three prices for a pretend shop, like a cake for twelve or a drink for four. Keep your eyes on the screen, reach up for each number, and come home after every tap. Then look at the page together.
For grown-upsCover the number row with a sheet of paper for a few lines and ask your child to name the finger for each number before they reach; praise a calm, careful reach and never a quick one.
Open these notes on screenScan the code, or go to tutorpip.com.