In today’s world, technology plays a big role in learning and growing. No matter where you start, Sesame Workshop is here to help families safely explore the digital world and build strong, smart, and kind kids for the future. Join Michael Preston, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center along with two media literacy experts, Elizabeth Milovidov, Founder of Digital Parenting Coach, and Dr. Michael Rich, Founder and Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, to learn about family-friendly ways to explore, explain, and expand on wellness in relationships and online.

Learning Goals:

Define the topic of digital well-being with subject matter experts,
Explore the ways that media landscape is evolving, and
Learn strategies to help families engage in online activities that promote resilience and connection

In the blog below, learn a little more about the ways media can help nurture connections with everyone in the neighborhood from Elizabeth Milovidov, Founder of Digital Parenting Coach.

What does media consumption look like for young children and families today? How has this changed over time, and what signs indicate future behavior?

Over the past few years digital devices have become more accessible to children than ever before. Post-pandemic, families have increasingly turned to digital devices and platforms not only for entertainment but also as tools for education, connecting with friends and family, creating content, and more. The acceptance and inclusion of media consumption in our daily lives, and the lives of our children, will undoubtedly increase as technology continues to evolve.  

To navigate this ever-changing digital landscape, parents and children can work together to build media literacy, learn the fundamentals of data protection, and protect their family’s privacy and safety online. Building resilience and increasing awareness on how to consume media in a balanced and healthy manner should be the cornerstone of any family media literacy plan.

Luckily, there are lots of great resources to help families curate a mindful, safe, and beneficial digital experience for their children. Here are some resources that I use with my own family:

Common Sense Media provides ratings and guides on popular movies, games, and apps, to help digital families make informed decisions about the media they are consuming. The reviews are provided by parents and, even more importantly, by the children themselves. I often find it useful to read reviews with my own children to start a conversation about media.

Pew Research provides evidence-based research on what our children and young people are doing online. This inside knowledge is particularly useful for those parents who want to dive deeper into different specific subjects, such as social media.

One of my final favorites is Digital Wellness Lab. Their research and resources focus on teaching digital families how to consume media in a manner that is not only age-appropriate, but also developmentally appropriate for the young ones in their care.

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