Creating Safe Online Spaces for Curious Young Learners
Eager Reader Fam Day participants proudly present their outputs to their co-learners via Zoom. As children’s lives become increasingly connected with technology, it is crucial to have safe online spaces for curious young learners.
In the Philippines, National Children’s Month is celebrated every November. This occasion is an opportunity for policymakers, educators, health workers, law enforcers, caregivers, and parents to focus on their commitments to protect and enrich children’s lives. According to the Department of Education (DepEd), this year’s theme, “Stay Curious, Stay Cautious: Empowering Learners to Surf Safely”, emphasizes the need to safeguard children from abuse and exploitation on the internet.
How can we do this as children’s lives become more and more intertwined with technology? The answer is with digital literacy—but not just digital literacy alone. Can you guess what’s missing?
Described as a 21st century skill by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), digital literacy is defined as “the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that allow children to be both safe and empowered in an increasingly digital world.” With proper digital literacy, users can reap the benefits of the internet while staying safe from its perils such as cyberbullying, data privacy risks, scams, and harmful content. It allows them to learn, express themselves, and connect with a global community. In order to navigate a complex virtual landscape, however, a person must first have basic literacy—yet nowadays many children are using the internet before they have even learned to read. That’s how young some internet users are! In fact, a comprehensive study reveals that one in three internet users worldwide is a child.
The shift to digital learning
As governments and media companies are still developing new protocols to keep up with changing times, some parents are deciding to withhold or limit the use of technology until their children mature. On the other hand, other parents are raising tech-savvy toddlers, relying on trust, consistent monitoring, and child-safety features of their devices and programs. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it has become difficult for parents from all walks of life to keep their young ones off technology because of how essential it has become. One factor is the Philippine education system’s shift to digital learning since early 2020 in order to safely conduct synchronous classes.
Fortunately, this shift also allowed more parents to change their view of technology. Instead of being a short-time pacifier, distraction, or merely a source of entertainment for children, technology and the internet are gradually gaining acceptance as modern means for youth to learn without leaving their homes. However, in the words of former UNICEF Director Anthony Lake, “the internet was designed for adults, but it is increasingly used by children and young people”. As educators, the goal is to teach children how to use digital devices smartly and safely. In a country where nine out of ten Filipinos children age 10 still struggle with literacy, however, this poses a challenge.
What else then can contribute to safety aside from digital literacy? We believe it is creating online spaces designed for children. Much like how child-friendly movies are designed to let children experience the wonders of going to the cinema with their families, adults can also create online communities with young ones in mind.
A safe online space: Eager Reader Fam Day
Launched in 2020, the Eager Reader Fam Day is an initiative by the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. that aims to promote early literacy by involving adults in fun learning activities made for children and children-at-heart. This online activity is held several times a year over Zoom and provides an opportunity for children all over the Philippines to listen, read, and share stories together. Not only will they improve their reading skills, but they can also sing, dance, create, and play while learning.
Last November 11, 2023 the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. dedicated its Eager Reader Fam Day to the celebration of National Reading Month, which aims to enhance the youth’s literacy skills by fostering a culture of reading.
Leading the session was Teacher Magan, who read the big book “May mga Bulaklak” written by Mary Anne Escalante and illustrated by Asa Victoria A. Montenejo. Afterwards the attendees crafted their own flowers from paper plates using art materials prepared by their guardians and their imaginations. Each young learner also had the opportunity to present their paper plate flower to the group.
Stay tuned for the next installment of our Eager Reader Fam Day by following AGFI on Facebook and Instagram (@adarnagroupfoundation) where you can help us create more child-friendly online spaces for curious young minds.
Eager Reader Fam Day
November 11, 2023
In honor of National Reading Month, the session conducted activities related to the big book “May mga Bulaklak” written by Mary Anne Escalante and illustrated by Asa Victoria A. Montenejo.