News

New one-stop hub to educate and safeguard children

A new website spearheaded by Australian Catholic University (ACU) will provide evidence-based information and resources for educators and families to help teach and protect children in today’s digital world.

The comprehensive website is the result of a landmark four-year Young Children in Digital Society research project led by ACU in collaboration with education and health experts from Curtin University, Deakin University, Monash University, La Trobe University, and the University of Canberra.

Lead researcher Professor Suzy Edwards, of ACU’s Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, said the new website was a go-to hub for early learning services and educators wanting to help children aged birth to eight years and their families be safe and active in the digital world.

“This website has free-to-access resources that take the guess work out when it comes to best practice to keep children actively and safely engaged, entertained, and educated in the digital world,” she said. “The resources will benefit children, their families, and educators through easy-to-use and evidence-based exemplar practices children and adults can try at home or in their early learning services.”

The website, created following research into the four areas of technology use outlined in the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies – relationships, health and wellbeing, citizenship, and play and pedagogy – features 40 new resources for educators and families including:

• Articles on topics including how to use technology to build relationships and social skills, ways digital technologies can support peer-to-peer interactions between children, and tips on how digital technologies can be used to spark physical activity.
• Videos to support families to safely enjoy digital content together including a segment on iconic Australian TV show Play School that supports children in building early understandings about safely communicating with people they know in real life online, as well as ways to transition from technology to non-digital activities, and how to link digital content to children’s interests.
• Webinars, interactive modules, picture books, and animations for children, parents and guardians, and early childhood educators about online safety.

ECA, the eSafety Commissioner, ABC Kids, Australian Federal Police, Raising Children Network, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, and Deeper Richer, were also partners on the Australian Research Council funded study, which led to the creation of the new Young Children in Digital Society website.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said children were engaging with digital technologies from a young age and educators needed to be empowered to help parents and carers navigate online challenges.

“This groundbreaking research project will provide an additional comprehensive resource for educators, parents and broader family members to ensure that children are harnessing the benefits of the digital world while minimising the risks,” she said.

“Technology platforms were not built in the best interests of the child so it’s up to all of us to ensure that children’s best interests are realised when they are online.”

Professor Edwards said the user-friendly website was designed with children’s best interests at heart.

“We know young children and their families live in a digital world and we intend for children to use digital technologies in a safe, effective, and informed way. To do this, service providers, families and educators need access to evidence-based advice and resources – and that is exactly what we’ve delivered,” she said.

We Belong Family Day Care, Playgroup Western Australia, Lady Gowrie Tasmania, Pope Road Kindergarten, Berwick and District Woodworkers Club, and C & K Childcare & Kindergarten were also involved in the project.

Young Children in Digital Society