Literacies and Language

Digital technology, play and child well-being

Literacies and Language Cluster Director, Dr. Fiona Scott, is leading new, international case study research exploring the relationship between children’s digital play and their well-being. The case study research comes as part of ‘Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children’ (RITEC), a large-scale, four-phase collaboration funded by the LEGO Foundation and delivered by UNICEF, the LEGO Group and a range of experts from universities around the world. The ultimate goals of the collaboration are to explore how businesses and policymakers can create a digital world that prioritises the well-being of children. Phase one of RITEC, which considered what well-being means to children in a digital age, has already been delivered by UNICEF and Western Sydney University. Phase two of the project will see research teams from New York University, The City University of New York, the University of Sheffield and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child apply multiple research methods to understand how different digital play experiences impact children’s well-being outcomes. From this, the project aims to provide businesses with access to evidence-based tools that will enable design choices more likely to promote the well-being of children. Over time, this is expected to create a more child-centric and sustainable model of digital innovation for the future. More information about the project can be found on the RITEC project website.