About

Even eight years ago, the idea that pre-verbal babies and toddlers would be able to access internet content unaided would have been fanciful. These days, it is an unremarkable activity within the wealthier nations of the world. The inclusion of very young children within the digital realm raises many issues and the speed with which this has happened has outpaced policy development and evidence-based research.

Until 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that only children over two should have any access to screen technologies and many people still believe that access below that age is totally unsuitable. Although these guidelines have now been softened, and the value of digitally facilitated social connection for even the youngest children is more accepted, parents, caregivers and researchers continue to feel uncertain about the key issues of when, what and for how long different ages of young children should be allowed to use digital technologies. 
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Alongside this, digital technologies have become an essential element in many kindergartens and pre-primaries, integrated across a play-based curriculum. The development of early years multi-modal literacies is keenly embraced by many educators in the face of those who argue that digital technologies are better introduced at an older age.These are the issues that motivate this research area, along with key concerns around privacy, children's rights, policy development, risks and benefits.

Over the past three years, the Digitising Early Childhood team have hosted two conferences in Australia, and one pre-conference in Manchester (UK). Each conference contained a full program of international presenters who delved into important research topics including the benefits and risks to children accessing and using digital technology in school and in the home. The digital skills that children require to successfully and safely use digital technology were also widely discussed. For further information about each conference please access the 'Past Conferences' tab under 'More' in the navigation toolbar above. Each conference tab contains: full conference programs, abstracts and keynote speakers. 

Brought to you by Edith Cowan University, with the support of the Australian Research Council