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    IoToys are here to stay, and it’s time we moved beyond media panics and hype

IoToys are here to stay, and it’s time we moved beyond media panics and hype

In this post Giovanna Mascheroni and Donell Holloway explain why we need to consider the social context and consequences of children’s use of internet-connected toys and devices. They draw upon findings from their recently published book “The Internet of Toys: Practices, Affordances and the Political Economy of Children’s Smart Play”. Giovanna Mascheroni is a senior lecturer in Sociology of Media and Communications at the Department […]

July 3rd, 2019|Featured, Research shows...|0 Comments|
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    Makerspaces: How parents support young children’s learning

Makerspaces: How parents support young children’s learning

How can makerspaces help parents encourage their children to become digitally literate? The MakEY research project brings together researchers to explore the benefits and challenges of running making workshops in a variety of settings. In this post, Alicia Blum-Ross and Sonia Livingstone explore ‘makerspaces’ and what they mean for parents and children. Sonia is Professor of Social Psychology at LSE’s Department of Media […]

January 3rd, 2018|Featured, Our publications|0 Comments|
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    ‘I’m not just a mom’: Parents as creators, collaborators and learners in creative computing

‘I’m not just a mom’: Parents as creators, collaborators and learners in creative computing

Family Creative Learning was designed to support intergenerational interactions in the context of computing, and this post explores the technological and the creative possibilities for families learning together. Ricarose Roque discusses the programme and the series of workshops hosted at a local community centre, where parents and children engaged with the Scratch programming language and the Makey Makey invention kit. One […]

December 6th, 2017|Featured, Reflections|1 Comment|
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The Internet of Toys: Implications of increased connectivity and convergence of physical and digital play in young children

How are children’s play objects shaped by technological inventions? As toys become increasingly connected online, Bieke Zaman, Donell Holloway and Leila Green research the ‘Internet of Toys’. The the data they report in this post show that parents generally welcome these changes because they offer new ways of playing, learning, and the possibility of extreme personalization. Bieke Zaman is associated with mintlab and researches how […]

July 19th, 2017|Featured, Research shows...|0 Comments|
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Learning or loafing – watching summer TV

Now that children are out of school for the summer, parents and carers will inevitably turn to a screen (of some sort) to keep children occupied. How can this be a productive, learning and enriching time for children even when in front of a screen? Alicia Blum-Ross encourages parents and carers to let children experiment, play, and relax this summer, […]

July 17th, 2017|Featured, Reflections|1 Comment|
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    How dropping screen time rules can fuel extraordinary learning

How dropping screen time rules can fuel extraordinary learning

How can we focus on quality over quantity in the ongoing issue of screen time rules? In this post, Mimi Ito suggests practical ways to focus on quality screen engagement and to avoid stressing about counting time. With this perspective, Mimi’s research shows that extraordinary learning is possible when we allow young people to engage with the internet in […]

June 21st, 2017|Featured, Research shows...|4 Comments|
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Augmented reality apps: value beyond the hype?

Jackie Marsh discusses the research she conducted about augmented reality apps, investigating their use, value and potential for young children. She urges that as these apps become increasingly ubiquitous, it will be important for parents and early years practitioners to appraise and assess the apps and decide whether they are of fleeting interest, or if they hold the potential […]

May 11th, 2017|Featured, Research shows...|1 Comment|
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Families and Pokémon GO

How does the popular game Pokémon GO provide active, educational and social screen time? Kiley Sobel presents interview data and tips for parents about the way in which Pokémon GO allows families to and engage with media together and to make meaningful connections with each other and the spaces around them. Kiley is a Ph.D. candidate and National Science […]

April 27th, 2017|Featured, Research shows...|2 Comments|
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Researching childhood in a digital age: New book chapter

 

In the new edition of one of the key methods texts in childhood research – Research with children: Perspectives and practices, edited by Pia Christensen and Allison James – Sonia Livingstone and Alicia Blum-Ross argue that paying attention to the digital reveals a lot about children’s identities and relationships. The previous 2008 edition barely mentioned mobile phones, social networking, […]

March 21st, 2017|Featured, Our publications|2 Comments|
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    What is ‘play’ and ‘playfulness’, and what does it mean to join either term together with learning?

What is ‘play’ and ‘playfulness’, and what does it mean to join either term together with learning?

Julian Sefton-Green explores what play is and what play is not, and whether it truly is ‘the work of the child’. Julian is an independent scholar working in education and the cultural and creative industries. He is currently leading the project Preparing for Creative Labour and is a principal research fellow at the Department of Media & Communication, LSE, a research associate at […]

March 7th, 2017|Featured, Our publications|2 Comments|
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