Digital Lives, Digital Journeys: The Evolution of Play and Literacy Among Young People

Dear Colleagues,

Children today grow up in a rich digital environment, where technology is seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. This Special Issue delves into the digital lives of young children, focusing on how they spend their leisure time and the digital activities they choose to engage in. Our goal is to examine how children interact with these technologies, the needs met by their selection of various digital tools, and the development of early digital literacy. We are particularly interested in understanding how children acquire the skills to navigate digital environments and choose the most suitable tools for self-directed play, communication, and other activities in the digital environment. Building on these insights, we aim to comprehend how these digital choices influence both informal and formal learning. We welcome research on how early exposure to different technologies, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), affects cognitive growth, critical thinking, and social abilities in early childhood. By linking digital engagement at home with educational outcomes, we seek to offer a comprehensive understanding of children’s digital journeys in an increasingly intricate technological world.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Exploring young children’s use of technology in their daily lives.
• Digital literacy and self-regulated learning (SRL) in early childhood digital environments.
• The role of Generative AI (GenAI) in early learning.
• The links between children’s self-directed digital uses and their formal learning and development.
• Social and cognitive aspects of technology use among young children.
• Adult mediation (parental and teacher guidance) in young children’s use of technology.

Dr. Meital Amzalag
Guest Editor

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