• Learning about the Media

    Children between the ages of three and six are by nature very open-minded and inquisitive to learn as much as possible about their environment. In order to understand and grasp the world, they ask many questions. Younger children generally make no distinction between technology and nature or between lifeless and living environments. They perceive their environment as one unit.

    Of course, this also applies to the media. For children, media stand in a concrete relationship to their environment, because they are omnipresent in daily life. Taking up this relationship can be very rewarding for ECEC. At this point, a (first) access to technology can be established, which can be built up independently of gender. An active experience plays an important role for children of preschool age. They find it appealing to explore media technology and experiment with it. Sorted out old computers, telephones and keyboards are optimal objects to be explored, disassembled and reassembled with all senses present.

    Take advantage of children's natural curiosity. Children ask questions all the time about things they meet in this world. Of course, this also includes media. Listen to the children's questions and try to answer them effectively. Through direct reference to the child's environment, you can provide initial explanations of how media work.

    When learning, children have the opportunity to independently transfer known facts to new knowledge and to recognize connections. It is important to formulate one's own conclusions and findings and to make one's own assumptions.

    At this point, speculations about what media actually are can also be discussed. An important step towards understanding what media are is the experience that media are neither magical objects nor living beings, but are made by humans.

    When you talk with your children about negative media experiences, show to them that adults are also afraid of certain things and that they do not have to be ashamed of being afraid. This makes it easier for children to look for help when media experiences overtax them.



    Comprehension Questions

    1. Can you justify why preschool children should experience and explore media technology?

    2. How can you support the young children’s interest in technology?