Whose responsibility is it to teach D&ML skills?

By Oneida Casado

It is everyone’s responsibility to teach digital and media literacy skills! Children are exposed to media at a very young age today. They begin to learn through media almost as soon as they are born! They learn to use their caregiver’s cell phones, computers and television as a form of entertainment and education. Young children can sometimes spend a large portion of their day engaged in some type of digital and/or media activity. It is up to all of us to teach them to use it responsibly.

As their first teachers, caregivers are instrumental in teaching children the ethics of digital media. For example, if an older child wants to start a facebook or twitter account, the caregiver should teach her/him how to use the account responsibly. That means having frank discussions about online bullying, sexual misconduct and how to spot predatory behavior. In younger children, it may mean monitoring conversations and/or activities for inappropriate content/behavior and limiting on screen time.

Digital and media literacy takes many forms and can be used as an essential educational tool. Therefore, educators are equally responsible for teaching d&ml skills. Reading books and magazines, watching television, social media and billboard advertisements are all part of digital and media literacy! Children can be taught critical thinking skills through d&ml. They can use it to explore new ideas, engage in exciting experiences, expand their social circles and enhance their imagination!

With so much access to d&m tools today, I wonder what is the appropriate amount of time young children should spend engaged in d&m activities? I am also concerned about young students missing out on personal connections because of all the time they may be spending on these activities. Are they missing out on crucial interpersonal skills? I also wonder about the amount of physical activity students are engaged in today versus 20 years ago? Are they less healthy now because they spend so much time engaged in d&m activities? As an early childhood educator, I wonder how can we use digital and media literacy skills to enhance physical and emotional health in young children?