In this session we will explore how families can navigate young children’s digital lives with confidence, calm, and connection. Parents today face a flood of mixed messages about “screen time”, from warnings by health bodies, to advice from educators and the media. Conflicting recommendations leave many parents feeling uncertain, judged, and even stressed about their children’s digital technology use. Join Professor
Karen Murcia as she draws from research conducted in the Australian Research Council funded Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and reframes the conversation, rather than focusing on how much time children spend on screens, we consider how children use digital technologies and who they use it with. Realistic modelling of intentional, not ‘perfect’ use of digital technologies will be considered in the real world of digital parenting. We will leave this session with research-informed strategies and shared ideas for guiding children’s digital experiences, focusing on connection, creativity, and digital citizenship.

Karen Murcia is a Professor of Education at Curtin University and Program Co-Lead of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child (www.digitalchild.org.au). As a Chief Investigator, she leads education research exploring how digital technologies shape the lives and learning of children growing up in the digital age. Her internationally recognised expertise spans children’s creativity, computational thinking, and digital citizenship. A respected thought leader, she drives STEM education innovation through collaborative partnerships with industry and community organisations, both in Australia and around the world.