Critically examining the fears that commonly surround young children′s play involving digital technologies, this book seeks to address each of the negatives and present the positive possibilities of technology when it comes to early childhood. Using observations of children in play and cutting-edge research, this book will empower students and build their confidence so that they are able to challenge perceptions and think creatively about how they can use technology. Each chapter includes case studies, research spotlights, activities and annotated further reading to help students develop their critical thinking, deepen their research and connect theory with practice.
Technologies are a pervasive feature of contemporary life for adults and children. However, young children’s experiences with digital technologies are often the subject of polarised debate among parents, educators, policymakers and social commentators, particularly since the advent of tablets and smartphones changed access to the Internet and the nature of interactions with digital resources. Some are opposed to children’s engagement with digital resources, concerned that the activities they afford are not developmentally appropriate, limit physical activity and restrict the development of social skills. Others welcome digital technologies which they see as offering new and enhanced ways of learning and sharing knowledge. Despite this level of popular and policy interest in young children’s interactions with digital technologies our understanding of the influence of these technologies on playing and learning, and on the role of educators, has remained surprisingly limited. The contributions to this book fill in the gaps of our existing understanding of the field. They focus on children and families from Australia to England to Estonia, the how and why of encounters with digital technologies, the nature of digital play and questions about practice and practitioners. The book raises critical questions and offers new understandings and theoretical insights around one of the ‘hot topics’ in early years research. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Early Years journal.
This book offers critical readings of issues in education and technology and demonstrates how researchers can use critical perspectives from sociology, digital media, cultural studies, and other fields to broaden the "ed-tech" research imagination, open up new topics, ask new questions, develop theory, and articulate an agenda for informed action.
Young Children Playing and Learning in a Digital Age explores the emergence of the digital age and young children’s experiences with digital technologies at home and in educational environments. Drawing on theory and research-based evidence, this book makes an important contribution to understanding the contemporary experiences of young children in the digital age. It argues that a cultural and critically informed perspective allows educators, policy-makers and parents to make sense of children’s digital experiences as they play and learn, enabling informed decision-making about future early years curriculum and practices at home and in early learning and care settings. An essential read for researchers, students, policy-makers and professionals working with children today, this book draws attention to the evolution of digital developments and the relationship between contemporary technologies, play and learning in the early years.
This book highlights the multiple ways that digital technologies are being used in everyday contexts at home and school, in communities, and across diverse activities, from play to web searching, to talking to family members who are far away. The book helps readers understand the diverse practices employed as children make connections with digital technologies in their everyday experiences. In addition, the book employs a framework that helps readers easily access major themes at a glance, and also showcases the diversity of ideas and theorisations that underpin the respective chapters. In this way, each chapter stands alone in making a specific contribution and, at the same time, makes explicit its connections to the broader themes of digital technologies in children’s everyday lives. The concept of digital childhood presented here goes beyond a sociological reading of the everyday lives of children and their families, and reflects the various contexts in which children engage, such as preschools and childcare centres.
Digital practices are forging ahead in leaps and bounds. Examining digital practices in early childhood education, this book seeks to inform the discussion on how digital technologies are best integrated into play-based pedagogy, and demonstrates effective practices that enhance children’s learning and development. With a range of international contributors, perspectives, and case studies, the fusion of play and portable technology is explored through contemporary research.
iPads, mobile phones, tablets and many other digital devices feature in the lives of children from the moment they are born, but what is the place of these technologies in children’s early years and learning experiences? In the age of the ‘Techno-Tot’ this edited collection focuses on exploring the potential of what children can do with technologies, rather than what technologies can do for children. With chapters written by a range of international authors, this book: offers an evidence-based discussion of children’s experiences with technologies in early years education broadens our understanding of technologies in early years, beyond the typical focus on screen-based media details the child’s ‘story’ with technology offers a range of case studies from the UK, USA, Australia and Europe. Lorna Arnott will be discussing key ideas from Digital Technologies and Learning in the Early Years in the SAGE Early Years Masterclass, a free professional development experience hosted by Kathy Brodie.
This volume focuses on very young children’s (aged 0-8) rights in a digital world. It gathers current research from around the globe that focuses on young children’s rights as agental citizens to the provision of and participation in digital devices and content—as well as their right to protection from harm. The UN Digital Rights Framework of 2014 addresses children’s needs, agency and vulnerability to harm in today’s digital world and implies roles and responsibilities for a variety of social actors including the state, families, schools, commercial entities, researchers and children themselves. This volume presents a broad range of research, including chapters on parental supervision and control, the changing forms of play, early childhood education, media and cultural studies, law, design, health, special-needs education, and engineering. Implicit within this book is the acknowledgement that children of various ages, abilities, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds should have equal access to, and positive / non-harmful experiences with, new digital technologies and content—as well as adult support and expertise that enhances these experiences. This passionate book celebrates the diversity of young children’s activities in the digital world. It interrogates these through four intersecting lenses: their rights, play experiences, contextualised design, and best practice. Balancing children’s eager engagement with digital content alongside adult responsibilities for education, privacy and protection, the volume provides a fitting showcase for work of global relevance. Professor Lelia Green Professor of Communications Edith Cowan University Perth, Western Australia This compelling text provides a critical resource to inform our understanding of the intersection of the digital world and children’s rights. Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D. Professor of Early Childhood Education Affiliate Faculty, Learning Design & Technology Area Coordinator, Early Childhood Coordinator, Early Childhood Ph.D. Program University of South Florida College of Education A truly international collection that investigates young children’s engagement with digital technologies. Identifying issues of public interest around digital practices, this highly readable book is a valuable resource for researchers, parents and policy makers. Professor Susan Danby Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and, Faculty of Education School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education QUT Kelvin Grove, Queensland
The second edition of Play in the Early Years provides a comprehensive introduction to pedagogy and play in early years education settings. Drawing on classical and contemporary theories, this text examines social, cultural and institutional approaches to play, and explores a range of strategies for successfully integrating play into classrooms. Thoroughly revised to include the latest methods and research, this edition features new material on intentional teaching, play as learning, digital play, and discipline-specific content. Two new chapters discuss post-structuralist and cultural-historical conceptions of play, and extended practical examples link pedagogical practice to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Australian Curriculum. The text is pedagogically rich, and each chapter is supported by a comprehensive companion website which provides links to videos, readings and supplementary activities. Freshly presented in a new full colour layout and written in an engaging style, Play in the Early Years remains an essential resource for pre-service students and practitioners.
Play in the Early Years provides an accessible overview of key concepts, debates and approaches to children’s Play. This book: · Considers play from a variety of perspectives · Offers expert insights into theory and research in each area · Encourages the reader to critically reflect on both theory and practice With features including key terms, case studies, reflective questions, spotlights on research and an accompanying glossary, this text is perfect for everyone who is interested in Play - from those just starting undergraduate degrees through to those with more advanced knowledge or experience.
