Nurturing Digital Skills in the 21st Century: Every Child Must be Tech Savvy!

Everyday, technological advancements are bringing the world closer together. They are making the lives of people easier by offering greater connectivity and flexibility. They are presenting an easier solution to work and study. Digital technology is changing the outlook and creating a better future but for such world changes and advancements. Thus, today, it is very much important to become digitally literate.

But, before we even understand how to make the world digitally strong, let’s initiate the value of inculcating such concepts deep within the roots of every child growing up in the 21st century. Yes, to cope up with the pace of such technology, let’s begin with imparting technical knowledge to the children.

Why Does Digital Literacy Matter?

Today, almost every aspect of our lives has been taken over by technology. From shopping to banking, from business meetings to attending classes, today everything is accessible within a few clicks on your e-devices. Therefore, it is imperative for the world to embrace digital literacy.

• Access to Information: Gone are the times when students and adults were turning pages of numerous books just to get hands on a piece of information. Thanks to the internet, today everything is served to us on a silver platter. The internet is a treasure trove for information, but not everything you come across is reliable. Digital Literacy helps to differentiate and pick the relevant piece of information without being trapped in the fake information and scams.

• Communication: Today, when everything has become online, Digital Literacy helps you to communicate effectively. It enables you to use emails, social media and various messaging platforms more professionally. Communicating online can be a boon for the entire economy. Thus, digital literacy must be focused on in schools, colleges as well as the workplace.

• Empowerment: Digital Literacy opens doors for more opportunities, empowering individuals to harness the full potential of digital tools and resources. Whether it is for your work, education or personal growth, digital literacy is important.  Most of the people are seen sitting in a cafe with a coffee mug and a laptop screen, only the ability of being technologically sound and taking advantage of the technology can empower the person to move freely and simultaneously accomplish the goals.

• Career Advancement: Many job roles require digital skills. All companies are becoming AI and machine equipped and digital literacy can help one choose the path of dealing with such technologies in their career path. Thus, the overall employability of an individual can be enhanced with digital advancement. The Gen Z are already gifted with the talent of being technologically brilliant as compared to the earlier generations. Being digitally literate can add yet another feather to their hat.

Digital Literacy in Children: 10 Important key aspects

To navigate the digital world, it is important to equip children with digital skills safely and responsibly. In today’s world every child is exposed to technology at a very young age. But it is important to streamline and guide them through the appropriate usage and knowledge while avoiding potential pitfalls. Here are some key aspects:

• Early Exposure to Technology: As children are growing up in a digital environment, it is important to engage them with technology at an early age. From interactive learning-apps to educational websites, it is crucial to encourage age-appropriate exposure to technology.

• Online Safety: Discussing with children about the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers, reporting inappropriate content, and understanding privacy settings is crucial for ensuring a safe browsing experience.

• Critical Thinking: Fostering critical thinking in children to help them evaluate online content is important. The emphasis must be on teaching them to question the accuracy of information and think critically about the content they encounter.

• Digital Etiquette or Netiquette: This includes being polite and respectful when communicating online whether through social media, email or messaging apps.

• Cyberbullying Awareness: Discuss the issue of cyberbullying with the children and ensure that they know how to respond if they encounter it.

• Media Literacy: Teach your children to distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation, help them develop media literacy skills to understand that not everything you read online is true.

• Privacy and Security: The adults should teach them the value of creating strong passwords, avoiding clicking suspicious links, and logging out of accounts when finished.

• Parent Involvement: Parents should be familiarised with the apps, websites and games that the children use and set appropriate parental control, if necessary. They must be more involved and encourage open dialogue about their wards’ online activities.

• Digital Creativity: Encourage children to use the digital tools for either school projects or otherwise. Whether it’s creating art, writing, coding or making videos, digital platforms can be powerful tools for creativity and self-expression.

• Educational Resources: The internet is flooded with websites and apps which can support the child to learn effectively. Many platforms offer interactive content designed to help children engage in literacy, numeracy and problem-solving.

• Continual Learning: Digital Literacy is an ongoing process. It is important to be informed about emerging digital trends and threats so that you can guide your children.

Remember

Organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are also actively involved in promoting children’s literacy and education worldwide. UNICEF recognises that literacy is a fundamental skill that not only empowers children but also plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty, improving health and fostering economic development in communities.

It is important to remember that digital literacy is not just about restricting or monitoring children while they are online, but also empowering them to make informed and responsible choices in the digital world. By instilling these skills and values from an early age, your child can become a confident and responsible digital citizen.