Outline 1.Aims 2.Literature 3.The JRC project 4.Possible projects

AIMS COST WG related to parents “The role of parents and caregivers will be examined [related to young children’s engagement with digital media].”

“How can we enhance and support parents’ understanding of the complexity of literacy learning for young children in the digital age?”

(AIM) Meeting output demands Reviews of published academic literature; Report for media industry (could be related to optimised intergenerational possibilities); Reports for parents and caregivers in the form of accessible leaflets/ posters in relevant languages. Reports for policy-makers.

Clark (2013): The Parent App. Oxford University Press Chaudron et al. (2015): Young Children (0-8) and digital technology: A qualitative study across seven countries. JRC/93239/EUR Chaudron. Communication paper from the extended JRC project Jensen (2016): ”Parent-pressue. A history of parents as co- consumers of children’s media” fc. Nordicom REVIEW Livingstone (2007): ”Strategies of parental regulation in the media-rich home” in Computers in Human Behavior, doi: /j.chb Livingstone et al. (2015): How parents of young children manage digital devices. London: EU Kids Online, LSE Willett (2015): ”The discursive construction of ’good parenting’ and digital media – the case of children’s virtual world games” in Media, Culture and Society, doi: /

Online materials Joan Ganz Cooney Centre Parenting for a Digital Future Common Sense Media Facebook group ”Children and Media Professionals” (David Kleeman)

Data, questions, needs Parenting styles matter, income matter, parents’ skills makes a difference Parents are anxious (want to be ‘good parents’) and under pressure Lot of continuity across different media developments (but that seems difficult to see) Active mediation matters

More research…but… There is a need for more research, especially around very early years But also… Information for parents (which makes them confident, engaged and positive) More content that encourages intergenerational usage (industry advice) Parents see/engage what children do …and a million of other things.

What do parents want to know? FINDINGS JRC ”Parents see digital technologies as positive but challenging…” Parents easily see RISKS, harder to see BENEFITS Parents have strategies for children’s media usage ”Parents have little knowledge of the actual digital activities of their children.” ”Parents would welcome advice on fostering children’s online safety.” Addition: What does children want parents to know?

Tasks ahead of us? JRC project recommendations ”Development of educational materials for parents and cares…[to] support young children in learning and acquiring digital and critical thinking…” ”Development and promotion of communication strategies outlining how parents can talk to young children about managing online risks…” …we want to focus on children’s agency and co- participation in managing online risks with parents

Challenges related to parenting Parents need time, but there is a tablets/phones as ”tool versus space” problem: often this will encourage a “consumption practice” not always digital “citizenship” How do children become more digital literate (consumers---critical users/producer)? Citizens in a digital space? Parents want to spend time with children, but not online…. Children copy (some) behaviour… How to enhance children’s critical engagement?

Outreach (1) Making the flyer/pamphlet that parents (and media researchers) want Including – Killing the “digital native”, but respecting children’s agency – Emphasising continuity (support parents own judgements) – Ideas and advice for intergenerational media usage

Outreach (2) Analysing “advice” flyers/campaigns/websites Researching ”best practices” What would parents and children like? Writing flyer Find funding Distributing and evaluating… Co-construct knowledge parents-children

A day in a life Researching children 0 to 8 using ‘a day in a life’ methodology

Ideas Flyer for parents & children (as research project) 0-8 A day in a life ?

Group work