Advice for Parents of Young Children in the Digital Age

Advice for Parents of Young Children in the Digital Age
An article from the Fred Rogers Center, April 2012
Fast-paced changes in today’s digital world have parents grappling with an unprecedented challenge—how
best to integrate media and technology into their children’s lives.
It is a time to seize opportunities, according to the experts at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and
Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College.
“Healthy use of media and technology by the youngest children is possible—and more important—than
ever,” says Michael Robb, Ph.D., Director of Education and Research at the Rogers Center. Robb manages
the Rogers Center’s newest program, the Fred Rogers Center Early Learning Environment™ (Ele). Located
at www.yourele.org, the site provides parents free digital resources and guidance, and empowers them as
teachers of early language literacy.
“We are seeing an explosion in the number of digital resources that can have an impact on the intellectual,
social, emotional and physical development of children birth through age 5,” says Robb.
“The challenge for parents is to select the videos, games and devices that have a real, positive
developmental impact—and use them in ways that promote growth.” Robb offers practical advice for
parents navigating the digital age:
Keep it interactive. The way a digital tool is used is as important as the tool itself; adult-child
interaction should be emphasized. Rather than putting on a television show or handing over your
smartphone and walking away, create a dialogue. Sit and discuss what you are seeing, ask
questions, encourage imaginative ways to explore similar subjects in the outside world.
Match use with age. Children’s needs change as they develop. Any media use with infants and
toddlers should be an interactive experience with adults, such as reading an e-book together; older
pre-school children may enjoy exploring a touch screen or using video to record and view their play.
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“Advice for Parents of Young Children in the Digital Age”
Have fun, stay engaged. Children’s media and technology are best when they support active,
hands-on, creative and authentic engagement with the people and world around them. Look for
games, websites and apps that encourage outdoor activity, healthy eating, critical thinking and
other real-world skills.
Promote digital literacy. By modeling appropriate use of digital media, adults can help children
learn to use the wealth of tools at their disposal in smart, healthy ways that complement their
growth and give them greater access to the opportunities of the digital age.
The most important guidance of all is for parents and families to know their children’s unique interests and
needs and to be aware of how the family’s media habits can affect learning and development for even the
youngest child.
For more information and resources, visit the Fred Rogers Center Early Learning Environment™—or Ele
(pronounced El-Lee), a free online resource. Ele has selected and sorted some of the best quality digital
tools on the web, and helps adults develop their ability to use digital tools in ways that promote children’s
healthy development. Visit www.yourele.org.
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The mission of the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College is to advance the fields of early learning and
children’s media by acting as a catalyst for communication, collaboration, and creative change. The Center
houses the Fred Rogers Archive, including videos and materials from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The
national signature programs of the Center are the Early Career Fellows program, the Fred Rogers Center
Early Learning Environment™, and the Fred Forward Conference Series.
Additional information about the Fred Rogers Center is available at www.fredrogerscenter.org or 724-8052750.
NOTE TO THE MEDIA: This article is available as a public service for publication or
use as background by the media, blogs, trade newsletters, etc. For additional
details, interviews and images, please contact Karen Lightell,
klightell@redhousecom.com, 412-519-9059.