Accompany children and families in digital path from birth to middle school: this is the intent that has always beenMec Association (media, education, community) which from Udine operates throughout Friuli Venezia Giulia and now also in a large part of Italy.
“We have been active in Udine for ten years – he says Giacomo Trevisancoordinator of educational projects – and we work in the field of media education, which today mainly means digital”. The association is aimed at the world of schools, but is part of an educational community context involving teachers, parents and other institutions .
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Hand in hand from birth to the end of middle school
In the last three years, three significant projects have been born, involving different age groups. THE “Digital Agreements” they are the best known and actively involve families in the digital educational process.
“The goal is to go beyond simple training, involving families in defining common rules,” says Trevisan. The project addresses the important issue of giving digital devices to children too early or for too long, trying to involve motivated families in building family rules to share with others.
“It is essential – continues the expert – to have common rules because when children find themselves with kids who follow different rules, much of the educational effort becomes in vain.”
The project has already demonstrated success with a significant reduction in smartphone ownership among sixth grade students in the trials carried out.
A second project, Civixai offer middle school kids the possibility of obtaining a “Smartphone license”.
It is a path on the conscious use of the internet and digital technology: “Thanks to funding from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the private Friuli Foundation we have reached 90% of the schools in our region”, says Trevisan.
This age group is one of the most delicate. This is demonstrated by Mec’s research “Digital in the family”, conducted on more than three thousand families living in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with children aged 11 to 13. Six out of ten families watch TV during meals, 9 out of 10 allow their children to use technology before sleeping, half of them use smartphones before going to school. Not only that: again three out of ten parents do not limit smartphone use in any way, five out of ten kids keep it on in their bedroom at night, six out of ten while studying and half of parents don’t take steps to avoid smartphone distractions while studying. These are just some of the bad habits that the Mec Association, through its projects, aims to break down for the good of children.
The project, which allows children to obtain the “Smartphone License”, consists of a ten-hour training course carried out in class, addressing all the main topics necessary for the conscious use of digital media. Homework, tests in class and a final test allow you to evaluate the commitment and understanding acquired.
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The third project, “Digital Custodians,“is aimed at younger children, from zero to six years: “This is a crucial age in which excessive exposure to digital devices can interfere with growth – explains Trevisan – but families at this stage are difficult to reach as there is no compulsory schooling. This is why we decided to involve pediatricians: they are the only ones who meet all the families from the birth of a child”. After having followed specific training, the pediatricians provide personalized advice to the families and periodically deliver, in correspondence with the health assessments, cards containing indications on the correct management of digital devices for different age groups of children.The aim is to promote digital well-being in the family and the development of digital citizenship, not only through educational and training paths, but also thanks to strategic alliances. 90% of family pediatricians in Friuli Venezia Giulia have joined and the initiative is about to be extended nationally.
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How to participate
Finally, the Mec Association is actively involved in the cyberbullying and of digital addictions, working to combat social isolation caused by the excessive use of technologies. With more than 50 active pacts throughout Italy, Mec demonstrates how well-structured media education can change habits and contribute to a more conscious use of digital technologies, from an early age.
But how can the association’s projects be activated in schools or communities? “Just contact us through our website (www.associazionemec.it) to request information – concludes the coordinator -. The first phase of support is free and aims to share indications for starting educational projects similar to those now established in Friuli Venezia Giulia in other reality”.
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