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Media literacy and media education in the family

Digital media are becoming more important in everyday family life and at school, while electronic devices are becoming more powerful and affordable. Using digital media is now part of the basic skill set, just like reading, writing and arithmetic. Applied media education is crucial for your child to be able to use media responsibly, critically and creatively. That way, children learn proper use of electronic devices and advance their knowledge in technology.

What do digital media offer and how do you teach your child about proper use of smartphones, laptops and so on? We inform you about digital media and make you aware of their risks. You will also get tips on how to advance your child’s media literacy. Our extensive guideline summarizes the most important information from all our articles for you to review.

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What does media literacy mean?

The term media literacy defines the ability to use media and media contents independently and responsibly. Children need to be well trained in media literacy to be able to use media safely and sensibly.

  • Media literacy consists of basic media knowledge, media use, media critique, and media design.

  • Media literacy is the basis for participation in the modern information society and should be taught from an early age on.

Why is media education so important?

Every day, children are confronted with various sources of information. Therefore, they need to get introduced to mindful media use from an early age. Media education is the basis for independent and responsible media use.

  • Media education teaches your child about the different types of media content: Your child learns to assess and process certain contents appropriately.

  • Media literacy enables your child to select certain pieces of information from a wide range of media choices that appeal to the child in terms of personal interest and usefulness. Therefore, media consumption does not happen at random.

  • The creative use of media and the option to interact with others within a safe environment and exchange ideas is part of the learning experience for children in media education.

Within the framework of media education, parents should help their children to find their way around in the digital world and, at the same time, protect them from certain risks. The learning curve gradually increases together with parents who also benefit from the learning opportunity, as they broaden their own media literacy.

Media guidelines for families

Depending on your child’s age and purpose of using digital media, there are various tips for more structured media consumption. Together with your child, you can set up rules for media use and explain why it is important to observe them. With a media use plan or media vouchers you can get an overview of the media your child uses and prevent excessive media consumption. We suggest useful rules for media use and information on media consumption that help you enhance your child’s media literacy. Additionally, we provide tips on how you can avoid potential conflicts while including your child’s point of view.

Screen time recommendations – rules and tips for your child’s media consumption
Tip

Join your child in exploring the media available and decide together which offers might be most valuable. This way, you can ensure that media use is age-appropriate and done with caution.

Family life and digital media

Using media together trains media literacy, promotes creativity and makes families stronger. Support your children when they’re using media and teach them how to act responsibly within the media environment. Here, you can find lots of tips and tricks to explore digital media together and in a playful way. We explain how shared media experiences support the development and playful learning experience of your child. In the article, you will also find information on which media channels are appropriate for which age group and how they train media literacy. The recommendations cover all ages from small children to teenagers and aim to teach the ability to independently use media.

Media use in the family – discover digital media together

Digital media options for children

Search engines for children, child-friendly apps, websites for online learning: By now, the internet offers a large selection of age-appropriate media channels for children and teenagers. Many of these offers are free and inspire your child’s imagination. Carefully selected media can support the linguistic development as well as the concentration of your child. They are easy to follow, provide educational content in a playful way and make a child more independent. For you to keep an overview of the many choices available, we have assembled a guide for you with educational media channels for children.

Media options for children – make the best use of digital media
Tip

To determine whether a certain media offer is suitable for your child, you can refer to media content rating systems like PEGI. They review age ratings of media and provide their own recommendation as a guideline.

Internet safety and data protection

Digital communication has now become an integral part of everyday life. The guide for safe internet use helps you and your family protect personal data and surf the internet without worries. You will receive tips on setting up basic protection on social networks and instant messengers. Furthermore, you will find out how to set up parental controls and which websites or online spaces are safe for children. And you will get tips on how to handle advertising and search engines. For extra protection, you will also need a strong password. Read this article to learn about the characteristics of a strong password and how to do a safety check.

Internet safety and data protection for the whole family

Respectful interactions online

From Instagram and Snapchat to WhatsApp and TikTok – respectful interaction online is important. Accompany your child during the initial phase of using the internet: This is how you can show what respectful behaviour within the internet community means and help to handle difficult situations. Generally, the internet is a space where the same etiquette applies as in everyday life for people to interact in a polite manner. The article includes basic information about internet etiquette as a guideline for your child to follow when using media. Here, we describe not only what a code of conduct for internet use could look like but also how you could handle conflict situations or inappropriate comments together.

Netiquette – respectful behaviour online
Tip

To keep personal images private, you should teach your child how to restrict posts for friends only to see.

Summary

Media education should empower your child to navigate the modern landscape of new media options independently and with confidence. Supporting your child’s media literacy is particularly important nowadays with omnipresent digital media. Media literacy also entails awareness and critical reflection of one’s own media behaviour and the content accessed. With our tips, you support your children in dealing with media independently and with a responsible approach.

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Sources

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/news-and-media-literacy/what-is-media-literacy-and-why-is-it-important

(accessed on 11 February 2022)

https://screensavvykids.com/2018/12/30/why-media-literacy-is-so-important-for-children-today/

(accessed on 11 February 2022)

https://teachyourkidscode.com/why-is-digital-literacy-important/

(accessed on 11 February 2022)

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