LITERACY, SKILLS AND PERCEPTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN ON MEDIA MATTERS

Abstract

Many children today grow up with television, video games, mobile phones, computers, Internet, tablets, iPads and iPods. Using these new media technologies, children are producing texts and images that shape childhood experiences and their views of the world.  This paper draws insights of an ongoing study and presents selected findings and snapshots of the lifeworlds of children in Proton City, Malaysia, with a focus on media use, forms of media engagement and the role of media in children's lives. The findings of the study reveal that while children are participating in many different media activities outside school, media literacy remains missing from in-school literacy practices. It is argued here that the media themselves are a form of pedagogy, and that more literacy efforts that generate media skills and knowledge are needed for children's fruitful participation. By way of conclusion, this paper argues for literacy planning in schools to embrace critical and productive media literacy to enable children to confront their real-life daily encounters with new media activities.