The project consists of six practice-based studies, which together shed light on what the pervasive digitalisation of society means for the lives and development of young children in and outside pedagogical institutions. The project outlines the extent of digital media in young children's lives at home and in daycare, and explores how these media influence different children's forms of participation and social interaction, as well as what digitalisation means for the collaboration between parents and early childhood educators, and their practices and ideals in relation to children and upbringing.
Over the past 15 years, society has been thoroughly digitalised, with far-reaching consequences for communication and social interaction, and thus for opportunities, forms of knowledge and social organisation. Both nationally and internationally, there are intense discussions about the pros and cons of digitalisation, and not least what digitalisation means for children cognitively, socially and developmentally. In reality, however, there is limited knowledge about what the digital transformation process means for specific children as well as more generally for childhood, socialisation processes, pedagogy and society. This is the starting point for this basic research project, which will simultaneously generate knowledge about a pertinent social phenomenon and contribute to the development of pedagogical work through close collaboration with the pedagogical field.
The six studies will take place in close collaboration with six daycare centres in the Copenhagen area and in North Jutland. In addition to collaborating with the daycare managers, employees and parents, a reference group consisting of representatives from a number of relevant organisations and an international board of prominent researchers within pedagogy, childhood, digital media and research ethics have been established for sparring and advice.
