Leading experts discuss what makes a ‘good childhood’ in Australia today

What makes a good childhood? What does a child need for a good childhood? Who should decide what makes a good childhood?

On August 7, guest speakers Professor Sonia Livingstone (London School of Economics and Political Science) and Dr John Davis (Deakin University) shared their thoughts in a public seminar hosted by the Digital Child in partnership with the Telstra Foundation.

The seminar’s guest speakers spoke in response to a new short documentary-style film produced by the Deakin node of the Digital Child centre.

The video features interviews with children, parents, grandparents, social workers, and representatives from organisations like the Raising Children Network, Alannah & Madeline Foundation, TalkiPlay, Life Without Barriers, and more, and the end result is a broad range of perspectives into what a good childhood means to different people.

“[This seminar aims to] explore what it might mean to talk about a good childhood,” said event chair Professor Sefton-Green in his opening remarks.

“And we’ve deliberately framed it as the broader good – rather than just focus on our remit in the digital age – because it’s now impossible to separate childhood from the digital. Enquiring into what it means to talk about a good childhood goes to the heart of our passion, our interest and our commitment in our [Centre] work.”