Parents, Young Children, and Digital Media

Digital Child event

A free, one-day symposium exploring parents’ and young children’s experiences of digital media and screentime in the home.

Parents, educators and policymakers are understandably anxious about very young children’s screen time, they’ve heard the recommendations about no screen time under two. Some experts seem to think that screen time can shorten attention span, slow down children’s language development, impact sleep quality, reduce sociability and lead ultimately to obesity – among other risks. And no one seems to talk about benefits! We’ve spent the past 10 years talking to families about their very young children’s screen time use and what they see as the advantages and disadvantages: and there are some of both: it’s complicated. But there are many positives to share that balance the scare stories and the dire warnings — not to mention what Bluey says about digital media use by young children. Come along to find out more!

This symposium offers in-person and online attendance options.

in-person attendance:
Thursday 20 Feb 2025, 9:20am to 3:30pm (arrive at 9:00am for refreshments)
Room ML10.131, Edith Cowan University (Mount Lawley Campus),
2 Bradford Street, Mount Lawley, WA, 6050

online attendance:
When registering on please select ‘online attendance’ and you will be emailed a MS Teams link closer to the date.
Thursday 20 Feb 2025, 9:20am to 3:30pm (UTC+08)

Keynote speaker

Dr Fiona Scott

Fiona is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Literacies in The School of Education at The University of Sheffield and an internationally-recognised researcher of children’s digital lives, literacies and play. She focuses particularly on the digital experiences of younger children and on diverse family and community contexts, globally. She frequently collaborates with external partners (e.g. The LEGO Foundation, XR Games and CBeebies). She is an Editor of the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, a member of the Editorial Board for Reading Research Quarterly and a member of the Academic Advisory Board for the Children's Media Foundation. She shares expertise through invited media and appearances and writing for the general public (BBC News Channel, BBC Radio 5 Live, The Conversation). Her most recent research, with UNICEF and the LEGO Group, investigated children’s digital play and well-being in the UK, South Africa, Australia and Cyprus. She is currently working to build these insights into digital design processes and support for families.