In today’s world where toddlers learn to use an iPad before they learn to tie their shoes, instilling digital literacy skills and intelligence to keep them safe online is more crucial than ever.
A study conducted by NielsenIQ in 2022 showed that young children today have more access to digital devices as compared to 20201. Parents of 5 to 6-year-olds surveyed in the study indicated that they were keen to cultivate digital well-being in their children as parents acknowledge the transition to the digital era.
Here’s the good news. NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) Little Skool-House (LSH) is doing just that with its innovative Digital Literacy Programme.
Going beyond computer-aided learning or hard skills like coding, NFC’s digital literacy curriculum equips Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 children with skills to navigate the digital world and tech tools in a safe and purposeful manner. LSH is the first preschool in Singapore to have a structured programme for kindergarten children that covers various aspects of digital literacy and intelligence.
Image credit: NTUC First Campus Kindergarten 2 children Keagen Tan and Teng Hairuo presenting the poster on internet safety which they made, to raise awareness about staying safe online
Why Digital Literacy Matters
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Empowering children to protect themselves and stay safe online
NFC’s Digital Literacy Programme exposes children to issues like online scams, data privacy, and cyberbullying. Through specially curated storybooks that teach children the dangers of sharing too much information online and the need to protect their passwords, children learn to protect themselves as they navigate the online world.
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Preparing children for primary school
With home-based learning becoming the norm, NFC’s Digital Literacy Programme ensures that its children are ready to tackle educational portals with confidence. It does so by familiarising children with the interfaces of these educational portals so that they do not feel overwhelmed upon encountering these tools in primary school.
NFC’s specially-designed curriculum is taught once every two weeks through a mix of age-appropriate classroom activities including storytelling, physical games and discussions, and hands-on practice with basic digital tools.
And don’t worry parents, screen time is kept in check – 20 minutes a week, well within the Health Promotion Board’s recommended limit of an hour of screen time per day for kindergarten children in that age group.
“NTUC First Campus’s Digital Literacy Programme reflects our organisation’s commitment to nurturing future-ready preschoolers. Digital intelligence is a vital skill for tomorrow. While we cannot forecast the precise tools and platforms that will define our future, we can equip our young to be adaptable, innovative and responsible digital citizens. Our Digital Literacy Programme is meticulously designed to nurture this adaptability and digital literacy from an early age. More importantly, the Programme educates children on potential online dangers and imparts to them the knowledge to stay safe and well,” said Coreen Soh, General Manager, Little Skool-House and Chief Child Development Officer, NTUC First Campus.
Image credit: NTUC First Campus Senior English Language Teacher Eileen Chia teaching the Kindergarten 2 children at Little Skool-House By-The-Vista about data privacy and cyber-bullying prevention through storybooks like Troll Stinks by author Jeanne Willis.
Parents are also on board with the programme and believe it will benefit their children.
“It is good that LSH is promoting digital literacy. Nowadays, our children are exposed to smart devices from a young age, and we feel more assured when they understand how to stay safe when using the internet. Keagen often comes home talking about scams and tells us to stay safe online,” said Tan Chee Hau, parent of six-year-old Keagen Tan who has been participating in NFC’s Digital Literacy Programme at LSH By-The-Vista.
Ready to instil digital literacy skills in your child? Enrol with Little Skool-House or schedule a visit to its centres today.
Reference:
- Understanding Digital Learning for Toddlers & Preschoolers, NielsenIQ, 2022
