Virtual worlds for children are becoming increasingly popular, and yet there few accounts of children’s use these worlds. Young spending increasing amounts time online as technology continues to create significant changes in social cultural practices the 21st century. Some children's interactions can be categorized playful nature; however, play frequently positioned oppositional. In this article, I explore tensions surrounding relationship between relate it similar discourses concerning...

This paper draws on an ESRC-funded study of play and creativity in preschool-aged children's use apps the UK. The main objectives were to collect information about access home, establish most popular identify features those that are successful promoting creativity. A mixed-method approach was used data, including video filming children using apps. In identifying types emerged analysis team utilised established taxonomy, which outlines sixteen types. taxonomy reviewed adapted analyse data...

This article reports a study that explored young children’s digital literacy in the home. The aim of was to identify range practices which children are engaged home and explore how these embedded into family life involve members. Four children, two girls boys aged between 2 4 years, were focus for study. Parents co-researchers they made written observations on activities captured using camera camcorder over period 1 month. They took part series interviews during reflected this data asked...

Abstract This study is the first to systematically investigate extent which apps for children aged 0–5 foster play and creativity. There growing evidence of children's use tablets, but limited knowledge by this age. ESRC‐funded undertook research that identified how UK from 0 5 apps, far promotes creativity, given importance these learning development. A survey was conducted with 2000 parents under 5s in UK, using a random, stratified sample, ethnographic case studies six families were...

ABSTRACT This study examined the literacy practices of children ages 5–11 as they engaged in out‐of‐school use virtual worlds. The purpose was to explore nature, purpose, and role children's a world. In this article, I reflect on how world constructed maintained an online social order. One hundred seventy‐five English primary school completed survey from which their worlds examined. Individual group interviews were then conducted with 26 across year. established that used extend contact...

In many analyses of children’s ‘emergent literacy’ (Clay, 1966) practices, there is little acknowledgement engagement in techno-literacy practices. This article discusses findings from a survey undertaken working-class community the north England which aimed to identify techno-literacy’ practices group 44 children aged between two and half four years age. It argued that multimodal textual competencies semiotic choices these ‘toddler netizens’ (Luke, 1999) should be more widely acknowledged...

This paper draws on data from a study of four-year-old child, Gareth, in his first year formal schooling England. The aim the was to identify nature Gareth's literacy practices across home and school spaces. focus for this is an analysis one aspect digital practices: repeated viewings at 'unboxing' videos YouTube. These include that feature unpacking commercial products. It argued child viewer/reader co-constructed these as cyberflâneur mode cultural transmission growing online age group...

Background The study reported in this article focuses on an exploration of the role and nature play young children's use toys that connect physical digital domains. Purpose purpose is to explore connections are made transverses virtual draws posthuman theory explain some complexity occurs these contexts. Research Design research took place United Kingdom, overall consisted four distinct stages: (a) A survey 2,000 parents children aged 0–5 years, focusing access tablet apps; (b) case studies...

The aim of the study reported in this paper was to identify value that makerspaces can have early childhood education (ECE). Drawing on data from research four settings a northern city England, part an international project years ("Makerspaces Early Years: Enhancing Digital Literacy and Creativity" or MakEY), we three key principles are integral provision: maker agency, funds knowledge, postdigital play. identifies lead development skills knowledge will become increasingly important...

In this paper, the potential relationship between creative citizenship and what may be termed ‘maker literacies’ is examined in light of emergent findings from an international project on use makerspaces early childhood, “MakEY” (see http://makeyproject.eu). The paper outlines concept considers notion maker literacies before moving to examine how might developed early-years curricula ways that foster civic engagement. Three vignettes are offered settings a museum Finland, Norway, UK....

Abstract This article reports on a small‐scale study which examined the home literacy practices of group 3 and 4 year‐old children in working‐class community north England explored how far these were reflected curriculum nursery attended. The data illustrate that there was dissonance between out‐of‐school schooled more evidence infiltrating than vice versa. Children's focused media popular cultural texts argues for greater recognition contemporary early years policy documentation guidance.

ABSTRACTS This article discusses data arising from a longitudinal study of the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences preservice teachers regarding use popular culture in primary literacy curriculum England. Eighteen students took part series interviews throughout their three‐year initial teacher education course. Data were inductively coded. The responses three are analyzed using number theoretical concepts developed by Bourdieu order to explore how students' agency was limited relation...

This paper outlines a research project in which three- and four-year-old children one nursery engaged with editing software to create short animated films. Research questions were related the knowledge understanding of multimodal texts that developed activity, skills they demonstrated undertaking animation work implications for curriculum development. Qualitative data collected over period an academic year as observed (using fieldnotes video camera) planning producing analyses some...

Abstract This article describes a study which was conducted in an inner-city school the north of England, base contained 57 children aged 6 and 7 years old. The purpose to explore potential role popular culture literacy curriculum. During project, socio-dramatic role-play area related superhero icon set up classroom. Children's play recorded using variety methods, including field notes, video recording photographs. Some previous research on has focused attraction discourse for boys or...

This paper reports on a small‐scale project which aimed to build upon the existing home literacy practices of group three‐ and four‐year‐old children living in UK. The purpose was develop materials resources could be borrowed from nursery used within promote children’s development. Children’s informal at were identified using diaries, 18 families completed over four‐week period. These documented reading both printed televisual texts. In addition, interviews conducted with 15 parents carers....