Media Literacy for Young Children (Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates)

Midwest Book Review calls this book a " seminal and groundbreaking instructional guide [that] is an essential and substantive contribution that should be a part of every professional, school district, college, and academic library Early Child Education and Media Literacy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists." It's also a Spring 2023 Smart Book winner from the Academics' Choice Awards.

Media literacy is about wonder and imagination, questioning and learning, thinking and reflecting!

Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates is about all these things, and more importantly, it is about how early childhood educators and professionals can prepare children for their digital future.

This book is a first-of-its-kind guide for pre-service and currently practicing teachers and child care professionals looking for pedagogically sound and developmentally appropriate ways to help today’s children navigate their media-rich world with confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking. Detailed descriptions of media literacy competencies, along with dozens of activities, strategies, and tips designed for children ages 2–7, demonstrate how to integrate foundational skills, knowledge, and dispositions into existing routines as well as experiment with new lessons. 

By examining media through a literacy lens, this book will show you ways to

·       Use inquiry and media-making to teach children about media

·       Plan activities to engage children in meaningful media discussions

·       Engage with families about the importance of media literacy education for young children

·       Address media concerns with joy and creativity rather than anxiety or fear

. . . and much more!