Children and Media: Insights from a Veteran Early Childhood Education Manager

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In today’s digital world, children interact with media daily. A veteran educator and Early Childhood Education Manager (varhaiskasvatuksen hoitaja) shared her thoughts on the key areas influencing a child’s interaction with media. She emphasized three critical aspects that nurture children’s media literacy and exploration:

1. Exposure at Home

The foundation of a child’s understanding of media begins at home. Parents and guardians play a vital role in shaping how children perceive and engage with media. By providing guidance, setting limits, and engaging in shared media experiences, families create a supportive environment for children to learn about media use responsibly.

2. Media Projects in Schools

The second pillar focuses on media-related projects carried out in schools under the guidance of teachers. These projects are designed to encourage children to think critically and creatively about media. Examples include:

  • Stop-Slow-Go Workshop: Teaching children decision-making skills regarding media use.
  • Discussions with Children (Loku-Lumo): Encouraging children to voice their opinions and share their understanding of media.
  • Smart TV Use: Introducing children to educational and age-appropriate media content in classrooms.

These structured activities allow children to engage with media in an interactive and meaningful way.

3. Safe Self-Exploration

The most crucial aspect of media interaction is the opportunity for children to explore media independently in a safe and monitored environment. This stage builds confidence and encourages curiosity, as children apply the knowledge gained from their home and school experiences.

The educator highlighted that the first two steps—home exposure and school projects—are essential for empowering children to safely and creatively explore media on their own. These experiences provide a solid foundation for children to innovate and think critically in their interactions with media.

By fostering a balance between guidance and independence, educators and families can help children navigate the digital world with confidence and curiosity.

Comments

  1. Shobnom PolyFebruary 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM

    Nice blog

    ReplyDelete
  2. Iresha Mendis February 10, 2025 at 4:43 AM

    Smart TV use in classrooms makes learning more interactive.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sarina ThapaliyaFebruary 10, 2025 at 5:53 AM

    really infromative wow i loved this

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jessica LahtinenFebruary 10, 2025 at 7:12 AM

    So nice text and very clear + easy to read and follow!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2025 at 11:27 PM

    Easy to read and nicely captioned/divided post. Experts sharing their thoughts are always a good source of valuable information. I was left wondering, where was the experts thoughts sourced from? Did you interview her, was it a recording of an interview, was it an article made or something else? There are no markings on references. Interesting and important information still.

    ReplyDelete

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