Orig. title: Young Children's Digital Practices in the European Context: Insights from Romania
Engl. transl.: Young Children's Digital Practices in the European Context: Insights from Romania
Keywords
Digital Literacy
Digital Practices
Young Children
Romania
Publication details
| Year: | 2018 |
| Issued: | 2018 |
| Language: | English |
| Issue: | 5 |
| Start Page: | 85 |
| End Page: | 97 |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Bakó R.K.; Tőkés Gyöngyvér |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Communicatio |
| Publisher: | Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania |
| Topics: | Social mediation; Literacy and skills |
| Sample: | "The subjects of the research are 4–8 year olds, their parents and teachers. During the research period, the following subjects were under scrutiny, using semi-structured interview and observation: – 16 kindergarten children aged 4 to 6 and their parents, – 8 elementary school children aged 7 and 8 and their parents, and – 11 teachers. The research was conducted in three locations in Romania: Cluj-Napoca, Miercurea Nirajului, and Sfântu Gheorghe" |
Abstract
The present research note is aimed at exploring the impact of the digital world on the online and offline practices of young children aged 4–8. The empirical research was carried out from March 2017 to August 2018 in three locations in Romania: Cluj-Napoca, Miercurea Nirajului, and Sfântu Gheorghe. Based on the results of a previous investigation carried out in the same locations during the period of 2015–2016, the exploratory qualitative research has concluded that young children have a low level of digital literacy due to their parents’ and educators’ lack of ICT knowledge and skills. Issues like online privacy and security are rarely of adults’ concern: they worry more about their children’s eyesight and social isolation.
Outcome
"""– Digital media devices continue to be largely present in the kids’ lives, but
there was an interesting change since the previously purchased tablets started to
break down, which parents did not replace with new ones. Instead, old tablets
were replaced by the used smartphones of the parents, which were received
with satisfaction by children. If the parent replaced his smartphone, the still
working but non-telephony device was passed on to the children as these
devices were suitable for children’s digital activities. They could be connected
to a Wi-Fi Internet, cartoon movies could be played on them, and they had
the advantageous properties of tablet PCs. These smartphones are not used by
children to make phone calls – they do not carry them, but they can play with
them at home. Kids often ask for their parents’ smartphone because they are
faster and better to play on."""