Already Connected Digital Early Childhood between Digital Media and the Net

Children under seven spend most of their free time using digital technology. Educational contexts, such as school and family, would sometimes seem disinterested in the actual understanding and management of the phenomenon. They are unprepared to provide effective educational indications in this regard. Pedagogical reflection also appaears to be late about the relationship between digital media and early childhood. The paper tries to fill this research gap by trying to answer these questions: How to interpret the wide diffusion of digital media and the net among very young children? What does the screen convey to them? What development gains and educational needs can be covered instead? Under what conditions is the virtual an educational environment?

Children under seven spend most of their free time using digital technology. Educational contexts, such as school and family, would sometimes seem disinterested in the actual understanding and management of the phenomenon. They are unprepared to provide effective educational indications in this regard. Pedagogical reflection also appaears to be late about the relationship between digital media and early childhood. The paper tries to fill this research gap by trying to answer these questions: How to interpret the wide diffusion of digital media and the net among very young children? What does the screen convey to them? What development gains and educational needs can be covered instead? Under what conditions is the virtual an educational environment?