ABSTRACT

Exploring Key Issues in Early Childhood and Technology offers early childhood allies, both in the classroom and out, a cutting-edge overview of the most important topics related to technology and media use in the early years.

In this powerful resource, international experts share their wealth of experience and unpack complex issues into a collection of accessibly written essays. This text is specifically geared towards practitioners looking for actionable information on screen time, cybersafety, makerspaces, coding, computational thinking, STEM, AI and other core issues related to technology and young children in educational settings. Influential thought leaders draw on their own experiences and perspectives, addressing the big ideas, opportunities and challenges around the use of technology and digital media in early childhood. Each chapter provides applications and inspiration, concluding with essential lessons learned, actionable next steps and a helpful list of recommended further reading and resources.

This book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore what we know – and what we still need to know – about the intersection between young children, technology and media in the digital age.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

Powerful Ideas about Young Children and Technology: Thoughts from the Thought Leaders

chapter Chapter 1|8 pages

Media and Marriage

“From This Day Forward, for Better or for Worse”

chapter Chapter 2|4 pages

Five Things That Haven’t Changed (Much)

chapter Chapter 3|7 pages

Fred Rogers

The Media Mentor We Need to Navigate the Digital Age

chapter Chapter 5|5 pages

When the Technology Disappears

chapter Chapter 6|5 pages

Seeing Is Believing

Racial Diversity in Children’s Media

chapter Chapter 7|7 pages

Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs

Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment

chapter Chapter 8|6 pages

Child-Centered Design

Integrating Children’s Rights and Ethics into the Heart of the Design Process

chapter Chapter 9|8 pages

Digital Play

chapter Chapter 10|8 pages

Coding as Another Language

Why Computer Science in Early Childhood Should Not Be STEM

chapter Chapter 11|8 pages

Personalized Education and Technology

How Can We Find an Optimal Balance?

chapter Chapter 12|6 pages

Makerspaces in the Early Years

Enhancing Digital Literacy and Creativity

chapter Chapter 13|6 pages

Mobile Media and Parent–Child Interaction

chapter Chapter 14|6 pages

No Surprise

Families Matter in Digital-Based Learning

chapter Chapter 15|6 pages

A Mission for Media Mentors

Creating Critical Thinkers

chapter Chapter 16|9 pages

Digesting the iScreen Decade

What Should Media Makers, Policymakers and Philanthropy Do Next?

chapter Chapter 17|8 pages

Childhood 2040

A Wish List

chapter |7 pages

Afterword

PastForward: Why We Need Thought Leaders and Media Mentors