Digital Games & Media Skills

Why is media education important in kindergarten?

Children are exposed to digital and analogue media from an early age. They are constantly exposed to different forms of media in their everyday lives: whether it's their parents‘ mobile phones, the television or their older siblings’ tablets. Analogue media such as books have also been a part of children's everyday lives for years, but the use of digital media is increasing rapidly. The topic of media in kindergartens and media education in nurseries is therefore becoming increasingly important.

Digital media is usually self-explanatory and very easy to use. Even two-year-olds have the motor skills to operate a tablet by swiping and to consume media content themselves. In kindergarten, media education therefore focuses on the conscious, critical and competent use of traditional and digital media and their media content. Use TimeTEX materials for media education in nurseries and kindergartens!

Children in kindergarten can learn media skills through educational support and media education. The focus here is on the diverse possibilities of media use, media design and the critical examination of media content, as well as the responsible use of digital media in the nursery. Children learn best through play, experimentation and discovery.

Media education in everyday kindergarten life

Media education in kindergarten is best achieved through a playful approach in which children use media creatively with the support of teachers. In kindergarten, they gain an insight into media production by creating their own media content under supervision. For example, children can use recording devices to record themselves singing or speaking. Our range includes a variety of child-friendly voice recorders. By developing simple stop-trick videos, they learn that not all video content is necessarily real. The same applies to photography. In this way, children realise that media only ever show a part of reality and can never depict it completely. Children learn how media work by trying them out.

Working with media in kindergarten enriches children's learning experiences. At the same time, methodological and technical skills are decisively strengthened. With our pedagogically well thought-out games for programming exercises, children gain an initial insight into digital technology and can engage with it productively and constructively. In times of digitalisation, children who have received media education will benefit for the rest of their lives. Traditional and digital media in early childhood settings can be a great complement to sensory experiences and physical activities. They can be used to expand children's perception. Media skills are complementary to other skills, such as language and STEM skills that are promoted in nurseries and kindergartens. For example, learning apps or explanatory videos can support the development of skills in these areas.

Aims of media education in nurseries

As children are exposed to media from an early age, it is important that they learn to view and reflect on content in a media-critical manner. This includes, for example, the background and intentions of advertising. Media also convey values and norms and thus influencing attitudes and perspectives. A critical and reflective approach to media content forms the basis for children to learn about media mechanisms. The aims of media education work and media education in kindergarten include the following:

• Children learn to reflect on their own use of media
• Media-related emotions should be expressed and processed.
• Developing a basic understanding of the intentions and aims of media representations.
• Recognising that media content is created and controlled by people.

Media as a useful tool

With the right media education in kindergarten, children recognise that media are merely tools that can be used in a variety of ways. These tools open up many opportunities for young children, for example for communication and exchange.

With the support of media education in early childhood education, children learn to:

• use media as a means of communication
• use media creatively as a means of expression
• perceive media as a means of entertainment
• use media as a source of information and learning aid

The use of digital media in the early daycare centre develops and enhances children's learning methodological and technical skills. They learn and develop strategies for obtaining information. In doing so, they begin to reflect on their own behaviour - even if children in kindergarten and preschool are only able to do this to a limited extent due to their lack of reading and writing skills and are dependent on the help of teachers.

Another aim of media education is to introduce young children to the exciting possibilities offered by modern means of communication. Using media as a platform for exchange, children can publicly express their own opinions and thoughts on a topic. They can also present their own thoughts and insights.

Media education in kindergarten is a good way to introduce children to sensible media use at an early age. Order media education materials from TimeTEX now!