Media Education in Early Childhood Education and Care

Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) covers both the day-care arrangements offered to families and the goal-oriented early childhood education open to children. All children under the compulsory school-age (7 years) have an unconditional right to day care. The system consists of public and private services. Over 90% of services are provided by municipalities. Early childhood education also includes free of charge pre-school education for children one year before they start compulsory education. Almost all children take part in pre-school education for six-year-olds.

Media education in early childhood education has advanced considerably in the 21st century. It is focused on developing a child’s capacity to live within the media culture and the understanding of the child’s own relationship with the media, taking into account the age and developmental stage of the child. Additionally, it furthers well-being and the child’s participation in the information society. Media education is based on events, experiences and learning as a form of playing. The results that are generated by the activity are made available, studied and discussed. Media education is integrated into other early childhood education, enriching and deepening its function. It can be implemented in a goal-oriented fashion in separate activity sessions or as a part of daily care, teaching and education. The Ministry of Education’s Media Muffin –project, which was carried out in 2006–2007 in co-operation with The National Institute for Health and Welfare produced a national guideline for media education. The guideline was published as a guide booklet that was mailed to all day-care centres in Finland. In 2009, a guide describing the media education themes for pre-primary and pre-school education was also published.