ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child

Parents who expect this text to be the ultimate “how to” book about digital parenting with evidence-based dos and don’ts are going to be deeply disappointed. They will probably be the only category...

Given the importance of young children's postures and movements to health and development, robust objective measures are required to provide high-quality evidence. This study aimed to systematically review the available evidence for objective measurement of young (0-5 years) children's posture and movement using machine learning and other algorithm methods on accelerometer data. From 1663 papers, a total of 20 papers reporting on 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Papers were quality-assessed and data extracted and synthesised on sample, postures and movements identified, sensors used, model development, and accuracy. A common limitation of studies was a poor description of their sample data, yet over half scored adequate/good on their overall study design quality assessment. There was great diversity in all aspects examined, with evidence of increasing sophistication in approaches used over time. Model accuracy varied greatly, but for a range of postures and movements, models developed on a reasonable-sized (n > 25) sample were able to achieve an accuracy of >80%. Issues related to model development are discussed and implications for future research outlined. The current evidence suggests the rapidly developing field of machine learning has clear potential to enable the collection of high-quality evidence on the postures and movements of young children.

Abstract The importance of incorporating digital technologies into early childhood education is now widely accepted to help position children as creative producers and not just consumers of technology. Early childhood educators in turn have a key role to play in developing technology-related skills and competencies such as coding and computational thinking (CT). In response, internationally a range of tangible coding technologies (TCTs), or digital toys, have been created to foster the development of young children’s coding and CT skills. However, to what extent are children’s developing skills and knowledge encouraged by the design of the TCT itself, and the educators’ pedagogy? This article reports on a study into the impact of one TCT, Cubetto , on the CT of a group of young children in an Early Years Learning Centre in Australia, and how educators encouraged coding and CT using Cubetto . The study revealed that Cubetto not only promoted children’s understanding of the nature of digital technologies but encouraged CT skills such as sequencing, cause-and-effect, and foundational numeracy in a collaborative, constructivist way. This was mediated in turn by the educators’ ability to utilise Cubetto effectively in an inquiry-based STEM learning context. Accordingly, this study notes that the incorporation of TCTs can be beneficial but need careful consideration as to their educational purpose and should be supported by developmentally appropriate pedagogical practices to maximise their potential in developing coding skills and CT in young children.

PURPOSE: Using a discrete dataset from the Women's Wellness after Cancer Program (WWACP), we examine the prevalence and predictors of self-reported sleep problems in women previously treated for cancer. METHODS: = 53.2, SD = 8.8) from the WWACP who had completed surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for breast, gynaecological or blood cancers within the previous 24 months. Sleep problems were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Baseline data (i.e. prior to intervention randomisation) were analysed. RESULTS: Most women (59%) reported clinically significant sleep disturbance (PSQI > 5), 40% reported insufficient sleep duration (< 7 h), 38% self-reported poor sleep quality and 28% reported poor habitual sleep efficiency (sleep efficiency < 75%). Fewer psychological and vasomotor climacteric symptoms, age < 45 years and having a partner were associated with reduced odds (AOR < 1) of sleep problems. Higher levels of pain-related disability, and an intermediate compared to 'high' level of education, were associated with increased odds (AOR > 1) of sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm previous studies that have found a high prevalence of sleep problems in women previously treated for cancer. A range of sociodemographic, climacteric and pain-related factors were associated with sleep problems in this study. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Targeted interventions to improve sleep quality after cancer treatment should be explored in this population. Predictors identified in this study could inform intervention targeting and development.

BACKGROUND: Today's youth are growing up in an evolving digital world, and concerns about the potential detrimental effects of excessive screen use on biopsychosocial outcomes in childhood are mounting. Parents worry about the impacts of screen-use on their children's wellbeing but at the same time frequently fail to meet their own ideal screen time limits regarding their children's screen use. There is an opportunity to shift research focus away from inflexible and often unrealistic childhood screen time guidelines towards exploration of positive parenting strategies that may have multiple beneficial and significant effects on children's screen-related outcomes. An emerging body of literature suggests that screen time and nature exposure act on psychosocial outcomes in contrasting ways. There is evidence to suggest that exposure to natural environments may counteract some of the potential negative psychosocial effects of excessive screen use; however, this relationship is poorly understood. The overarching aim of this scoping review is to source, categorise, and synthesise existing research exploring the associations between nature exposure, screen use, and parenting across childhood. METHODS: This mixed-methods systematic scoping review will be conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework with methodological enhancements from Levac and associates and recommendations from the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodological guidance for conducting scoping reviews. Five electronic databases will be searched from August 2022 onwards. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Peer reviewed articles related to the constructs of nature exposure, screen use, and parent/child relations will be considered in the context of early to late childhood. Study characteristics will be collated using a data charting tool collaboratively developed by the research team. Evidence will be presented using tabular and textual form and described using qualitative thematic analysis. DISCUSSION: This review will gather information about how key definitions are conceptualised, defined, and measured across the literature and map existing trends and areas for future research. It is intended that this review will inform and guide future research direction, recommendations, and programs aimed at supporting parents to navigate the challenges of parenting in a digital age. OSF REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TFZDV.

PURPOSE: Sleep disturbance after cancer treatment could compromise recovery. This paper examined the associations between post-treatment sleep problems and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the effectiveness of an e-enabled lifestyle intervention on sleep outcomes. METHODS: = 53.2, SD = 8.8; intervention n = 175, control group n = 176) who had completed surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for breast, gynaecological or blood cancers within the previous 24 months. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline (prior to intervention randomisation), and at 12 and 24 weeks later. Sociodemographic information, menopausal symptoms (Greene Climacteric Scale) and HRQoL (36-Item Short Form Health Survey; SF-36) were also collected. Linear panel regression was used to examine the association between sleep variables and SF36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. A difference-in-difference regression model approach was used to examine the intervention effect on the sleep outcomes. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, the sleep variables (except sleep duration) significantly predicted physical, but not mental, HRQoL. There was no statistically significant effect of the intervention on sleep outcomes at 12 or 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: Women who have completed treatment for cancer experience sleep problems that are associated with decreased physical HRQoL. Improving sleep through targeted interventions should improve their physical HRQoL. Improved targeting of the sleep components of the WWACP should be explored.

The role and potential impact of digital screen technology in the lives of children is heavily debated. Current evidence is limited by the weakness of measures typically used to characterise screen use, predominantly proxy- or self-reports with known inaccuracy and bias. However, robust and detailed evidence is needed to provide practical trustworthy guidance to families and professionals working with families. The purpose of this paper is to support researchers to select measurement method(s) that will provide robust and detailed evidence. The paper outlines the challenges in measuring contemporary screen use by children, using a child-technology interaction model to organise considerations. A range of different methods used to measure digital screen technology use in children and adolescents (i.e., questionnaires, diaries, electronically prompted sampling, direct observation, fixed room cameras, wearable/portable cameras, audio recorders, screen-device onboard logging, remote digital trace logging and proximity logging) are described along with examples of their use and constructs typically measured as well as a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. A checklist and worked examples are provided to support researchers determining the best methods or combination of methods for a research project.

Abstract Children actively participate in socially constructing their digitised childhoods. However, parents often struggle to understand and manage the relationship between children and digital technology, especially with reference to children's agency and creativity with digital devices. This paper reports on the impact on parent–child negotiations of a 10‐week programme of digital technology experiences whereby parents actively co‐played with their children. Interviews revealed a gradual transformation in parent beliefs, from anxiety to appreciation of negotiated agency and creative digital practice. From this finding, three guiding principles for parents are offered based around the concepts of attention, interest and interaction.

BACKGROUND: Recent research suggests that children spend increasing amounts of time engaging in screen-based activities and less time outdoors in natural environments. There is a growing body of theory-driven literature evidencing that child screen use and exposure to nature are associated with wellbeing outcomes in contrasting ways. However, few studies have explored their combinative effects, and the relational family context has been largely overlooked. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review explored associations between early-late childhood nature exposure, screen use, and parent-child relations to identify research gaps and inform future research direction. METHODS: This review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodological framework and other relevant guidelines for scoping reviews. A search of five electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE complete, ERIC, EMBASE, and Cochrane library) was conducted along with additional hand-searches from inception to 9/08/2024. Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2012 and 2024 were included. RESULTS: A total of 390 articles were screened by title and abstract and full text review of 96 articles was conducted. Following additional searches (hand-search and reference lists), a total of 23 eligible articles were identified. Evidence is presented in tabular and textual form and described using qualitative thematic analysis. The synthesis revealed that the relevant body of research is novel, heterogenous, and fragmented. There are various pathways through which children's screen use and engagement with nature interact within the family context; however, research exploring their synchronous and bidirectional effects on relational family processes is limited. CONCLUSION: Findings emphasize the importance of investigating children's screen use and engagement with nature from a relational paradigm. Future studies should explore the mechanisms underpinning the reciprocal influences of nature and screen use on dyadic family processes and relational outcomes across early-late childhood. OSF REGISTRATION: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TFZDV .

Background: Road trauma is a leading cause of death and disability for young Australians (15-24 years). Young adults are overrepresented in crashes due to sleepiness, with two-thirds of their fatal crashes attributed to sleepy driving. This trial aims to examine the effectiveness of a sleep extension and education program for improved road safety in young adults. Methods: Young adults aged 18-24 years (n = 210) will be recruited for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial employing a placebo-controlled, parallel-groups design. The intervention group will undergo sleep extension and receive education on sleep, whereas the placebo control group will be provided with information about diet and nutrition. The primary outcomes of habitual sleep and on-road driving performance will be assessed via actigraphy and in-vehicle accelerometery. A range of secondary outcomes including driving behaviours (driving simulator), sleep (diaries and questionnaire) and socio-emotional measures will be assessed. Discussion: Sleep is a modifiable factor that may reduce the risk of sleepiness-related crashes. Modifying sleep behaviour could potentially help to reduce the risk of young driver sleepiness-related crashes. This randomised control trial will objectively assess the efficacy of implementing sleep behaviour manipulation and education on reducing crash risk in young adult drivers.

The first-ever comprehensive report on the sleep health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter referred to as First Nations Australians) highlighted an 18% prevalence of poor sleep in First Nations youth. While sleep health is important across the lifespan, adolescence is a critical life stage with increased vulnerability to poor sleep. In adolescents, pubertal changes, social and academic commitments, and peer pressure significantly increase the risk of poor sleep, which often results in social and emotional well-being (SEWB) issues. In First Nations adolescents, high rates of SEWB issues demand effective prevention and management strategies. Evidence from non-First Nations adolescents suggests that timely prevention, identification, diagnosis, and management of poor sleep help reduce the risk and severity of SEWB issues in First Nations adolescents. A research program is proposed to be called "Let's Yarn About Sleep," which will co-design, deliver, and evaluate a tailored sleep improvement program for Australian First Nations adolescents (12-18 years). Co-design workshops will be conducted with First Nations community Elders, parents and carers, youth, and First Nations service providers to develop the sleep health program. The program will also include training Aboriginal Youth Workers (AYWs) to deliver the sleep health program. The program evaluation will be based on a mixed methods design, using self-reported (survey tools and focus group discussions) and technology-based measures (actigraphy data) to measure changes in First Nations adolescents' sleep and SEWB. The evaluation will focus on the impact of training AYWs on program delivery and uptake.

Teacher career trajectory studies have identified a small group of positive veteran teachers who have maintained an ongoing enthusiasm for and commitment to teaching. Research into teacher career trajectory frameworks suggests that comfort in the role remains a core tenet in supporting their sense of professional identity. While studies have identified this, there is little research into the subtleties of this tenet and how this helps these positive veteran teachers remain committed to teaching. This article reports on the qualitative findings about comfort in the role in sustaining positive veteran teachers’ commitment to teaching. Further, the article points to key support measures accessed by these teachers to maintain this commitment. The ability to identify what comprises comfort in the role may encourage curriculum organisations and executive school leadership to retain and capitalise on the skills of their positive veteran teachers. This research seeks to examine an important teacher education perspective that provides valuable examples for beginning and early career teachers of practical mechanisms for positive coping mechanisms and maintaining comfort in the role in the longer term in a dynamic and demanding profession.

BACKGROUND: Digital technology is ubiquitous in the lives of many children and parents. To better understand any influence of technology use by infants, and mothers, on child development, technology use should be considered within the broader family system context in which children develop. This study aimed to investigate associations between infant and maternal technology use and infant 12-month development, taking into consideration other family factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from ORIGINS participants, collected at 12-months of age: maternal and child technology use (TechU-Q), sociodemographic factors (e.g. child sex, household income), parental mental health (DASS-21), and child development (Ages and Stages Questionnaire). Linear regression was used for analyses. RESULTS: When family factors were considered, higher infant mobile touchscreen device (MTSD) use was associated with poorer infant development for gross motor, problem-solving, and total ASQ-3 scores. In contrast there were no associations between infant television (TV) watching or maternal technology use and total ASQ-3 scores. Higher maternal technology use was associated with higher infant technology use. Poorer maternal and paternal mental health were associated with poorer infant development. Poorer maternal mental health was also associated with higher infant TV watching and higher maternal MTSD use. CONCLUSION: There is a complex relationship between technology use, parental mental health and other family factors that together influence infant development. To improve infant development outcomes, less focus should be on infant or maternal technology use, and more on supporting the family as a whole, and parental mental health in particular.

Description Ballarat sits on Wathaurong land and is located at the crossroads of four main Victorian highways. A number of State agencies are located here to support and build entrepreneurial activity in the region. The Ballarat Technology Park, located some way out of the heart of the city at the Mount Helen campus of Federation University, is an attempt to expand and diversify the technology and innovation sector in the region. This university also has a high profile presence in the city occupying part of a historically endowed precinct in the city centre. Because of the wise preservation and maintenance of its heritage listed buildings by the local council, Ballarat has been used as the location for a significant set of feature films, documentaries and television series bringing work to local crews and suppliers. With numerous festivals playing to the cities strengths many creative embeddeds and performing artists take advantage of employment in facilities such as the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka. The city has its share of start-ups, as well as advertising, design and architectural firms. The city is noted for its museums, its many theatres and art galleries. All major national networks service the TV and radio sector here while community radio is strong and growing.

Abstract Fostering young children’s creativity is a desired outcome of STEM learning experiences. Such experiences often incorporate hands-on activities that encourage agency, curiosity, and experimentation. While educators generally have a good understanding of how to nurture creativity within a physical learning environment, less is known about creativity in an online context. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, little research focused on young children’s online learning. During the pandemic, studies involving this age group focused upon the experiences and perceptions of emergency remote learning, rather than intentional online education strategies. This gap creates an opportunity to explore the potential of STEM online learning experiences to meaningfully engage young children in creative thinking. This article analyses key themes emerging from video and interview data obtained during a series of STEM shows and workshops delivered by Scitech to Year 1 children in regional Western Australia, framed by the A-E of Children’s Creativity Framework. Findings illustrate how intentional online learning experiences can engage children creatively, and in turn supports a reframing of perceptions regarding the effectiveness of online delivery for young children.

It is common for contemporary schools to have a presence on social media for the purpose of connecting with the school community and often the wider public. Drawing on the perspectives of five Australian non-government principals, the study explored why schools engaged with social media and the approaches used to manage the school's social media activities. We found that the main perceived value was in marketing the school to prospective families, which required active curation of posts and comments to ensure a positive image was presented and maintained. We further found that principals consider social media platforms to be neutral mechanisms for communication, not dissimilar to previous forms of communication long used by schools to engage with their communities. When viewed through a data justice lens, we argue that these views result in unintended consequences by presenting an image of the school that does not represent the diversity of its students and activities and by perpetuating the exploitative practices of commercial platforms that commodify students’ data. There are also missed opportunities for schools to better promote their educational goals and activate students as agents in representing themselves online and developing their data literacy. We propose that by adopting the term ‘schoolfeeds’ we can promote a more critical engagement with school social media that can lead to better policy and practice.

Background The prevalence of and growth in digital technology present opportunities for educational and social enrichment; however, there are also many health and digital safety risks for children engaging with digital technology. While there is a growing body of research on digital safety programs to enhance children’s digital safety through parental support, evidence regarding the effectiveness of such interventions remains limited. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital safety interventions on parental practices related to safeguarding children’s digital activities. Methods The review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews and has been reported in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed in May 2024 in MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate, PsycINFO, Web of Science, The Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, ProQuest Central, and IEEE Xplore databases to identify peer reviewed articles that were (1) published in English, (2) included parents as participants, and (3) reported on programs or interventions designed to enhance parents’ knowledge and skills to safeguard children’s digital safety. Results A total of 11 published studies between 2012 and 2024 were included in the review. Data from 8 studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant effect (Hedges g=–0.47; 95% CI –0.85 to –0.08; P&lt;.001) was observed in children’s screen time in the 5 randomized controlled studies, while a large effect size was observed in 3 quasi-experimental studies (Hedges g=1.90; 95% CI –4.36 to 8.16; P&lt;.001). A substantial level of heterogeneity was evident in the randomized studies (I2=87.95%). The quasi-experimental studies exhibited no heterogeneity (I2=0%). Overall, parents’ digital safety knowledge and skills improved as a result of the digital safety interventions. Notably, children’s screen time (P=.04) and parents’ own screen time (P=.001) decreased following the digital safety intervention. Conclusions Parents who participate in digital safety interventions report higher levels of knowledge and skills related to digital safety, as well as a shift in attitudes, including the intention to implement strategies to safeguard their children engaging with technology. The enhanced knowledge and skills reported in these studies led to measurable reductions in both parents’ and children’s screen time. Future research should identify strategies that address community norms and other digital safety risks beyond screen time and bullying, which were predominant outcomes in these studies.

Diagnostic genetic testing and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for conditions associated with disability are becoming increasingly available to consumers. This genetic information can be used in the disability setting to inform factors such as prognosis, management, and reproductive decision-making. Genetic counselors (GCs) play an important role in the provision of genetic testing and NIPT, and their attitudes toward disability can influence how genetic information is communicated and shape patients' responses. This study aimed to evaluate and describe Australasian GCs' experience with and attitudes toward disabilities to identify potential biases and training needs. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 400 GCs registered with the Human Genetics Society of Australasia. Of the 106 respondents (participation rate: 26%), a significantly greater proportion were more comfortable interacting with individuals with physical disability as compared to intellectual disability (p < 0.001). GCs with personal experiences with disabilities reported significantly greater comfort interacting with people with intellectual disability than those without experience (p = 0.012). Qualitative analysis revealed discomfort was less reflective of bias than inexperience and apprehension about communicating disrespectfully. GCs believed people with disabilities experience discrimination and that having a disability could make a person stronger, wiser, and more motivated. Most GCs viewed prenatal testing for disabilities positively as it allowed for decisions regarding continuing the pregnancy and/or provided opportunity to prepare. Challenges identified for prenatal counseling included negative societal attitudes and the low visibility of disability. GCs felt that 'personal beliefs' was the primary factor influencing the decision to terminate a pregnancy affected by disability. These findings highlight important education and training needs for GCs to improve preparedness and comfort when communicating with people with a disability.

Description The Creative Hotspots project, or as it was officially titled Australian Cultural and Creative Activity: A Population and Hotspot Analysis, was an expansive, four-year project funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant (LP160101724). This comprehensive national study investigated the contemporary dynamics of cultural and creative activity in largely regional and non-capital cities and towns across Australia before the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020. In total, the project conducted fieldwork in 17 creative and cultural hotspots across five states: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia, examining what makes each hotspot “hot”, identifying the dynamics that underpinned their high concentrations of creative and cultural employment and activity. This White Paper outlines the project's findings and outcomes.

Ubiquitous datafication of children and families in educational and everyday settings is both a result of and catalyst for power asymmetries between digital platforms and their users. These platforms seek to know their users by extracting and analysing various streams of personal information, often discreetly. However, the users are rarely equipped to do the same to the platforms as information about these platforms is often obscured, convoluted, or simply unavailable. This article explores the possibilities of reversing such power imbalance via the design intervention of an Australia-focused educational technology (EdTech) database developed by the authors of this paper. Employing a design intervention method, the database is a collection of publicly available information about EdTech companies and products that target young children in Australia. As an alternative publication, this short article presents and discusses the ongoing processes of developing the database to reflect on what it says about the power relations between EdTech providers and their users. It demonstrates how it is a pedagogical space where people learn how to critically unpack and think about EdTech platforms. The database is positioned as a point of convergence for different actors involved in children's digital learning to collectively understand what needs to be done to enact and protect children's digital rights in education.