‘A one stop shop’ to educate and safeguard children launched by ACU

A new website, spearheaded by the Australian Catholic University (ACU), aims to provide evidence-based information and resources for educators and families who are wanting to both teach and protect children in an increasingly digital world. 

As the transition to a fully digitised world continues to evolve, the website aims to be a part of the conversation shifting from a focus on screentime, to a more deeper understanding about what children and adults can do with technologies in a way that promotes interaction, discussion, play and physical activity, and how children, families and educators can have a higher degree of agency in their decision-making about how, why and when they are using digital technologies.

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 would like to see the new website become “a go-to hub” for early learning services and educators wanting to help children aged from birth to eight years and their families be safe and active in the digital world.

“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 added. 

The website was created following research into the four areas of technology use outlined in the Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies, namely: 

• Relationships 
• Health and Wellbeing 
• Citizenship 
• Play and pedagogy

Filled with free-to-access resources designed to “take the guess work out” when it comes to best practice Professor Edwards hopes the resources will benefit children, their families, and their educators through easy-to-use and evidence-based exemplar practices which can be used at home or in early learning services.

All of the resources on the website are mapped to the Learning Outcomes from the Early Years Learning Framework as well as the National Quality Standards and National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Articles available cover topics such as: 

• how to use technology to build relationships and social skills, 
• ways digital technologies can support peer-to-peer interactions between children, 
• tips on how digital technologies can be used to spark physical activity

There are videos to support families to safely enjoy digital content together, including a Play School segment 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 have also been included.

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.

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.

Access the website here.