We know young children use technology more than any previous generation. As young children continue to be exposed to new and emerging Information and Communication Technology (ICT), digital citizenship for kindergarten students and preschool students is increasingly becoming important. As educators, we must mentor our children and help them
understand how to function safely and respectfully in the virtual world. Digital citizenship is the overarching term that addresses this skillset. Digital citizenship is defined as “the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology use” (Ribble, 2011, p. 10).

Digital citizenship is about confident and positive engagement with digital technologies. Digital citizenship includes appropriate online etiquette, literacy in how digital technologies work and how to use them, an understanding of ethics and related law, knowing how to stay safe online, and advice on related health and safety issues such as predators and the permanence of data. A digital citizen refers to a person who has the knowledge and
skills to effectively use digital technologies to communicate with others, participate in society, create and consume digital content.

By educating students about digital citizenship, they will have the opportunity to develop an understanding about the following concepts: Digital and information literacy, internet safety, privacy and security, cyberbullying, relationships,
communication, creative credit and copyright, digital footprint. Often, young children find it hard to transition from an online activity to an offline one. In this project we aim to teach educators and students simple strategies and routines for how to manage those digital interruptions that are part of everyone's lives in the digital age.

This project is a very innovative project. Its innovation lies in the fact that it focuses on digital citizenship in pre-school education. Contemporary theories of Sociology of Childhood view young children as active citizens. Although, many times adults’ ideas about childhood limit children’s agency and actions, thereby denying them status as citizens. This project shifts this discussion to the digital world and studies the abilities of young children to become digital citizens.

The aim of the project is to infuse pedagogical practices in quality lifelong learning for preschool students and teaching professions including teachers, school leaders and teacher educators across Europe. Specifically, the project sought to improve preschool students and teacher’s digital citizenship and competency by fostering the development of digital literacy skills through education. In the after Covid-19 era when children have been exposed to the digital world and have experiences in distance learning, digital citizenship issues in young children and preschool education arise as very important and innovative ones.

The project’s objectives link with the topics of digital safety, digital skills and competences, early childhood education and care.

The project has the following specific objectives:

• To teach teachers digital citizenship skills and strategies to infuse to their students.
• To promote digital literacy and citizenship as part of school curricula
• To promote collaboration and synergies among schools
• To educate parents about digital citizenship in early years and encourage collaboration among educators and parents.
• To promote justice and equality in digital world

WP1- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
WP2- SPECIFIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND GOOD PRACTICES
WP3- CONTENT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TRAINING MATERIAL AND THE TOOLKIT
WP4- DEVELOPMENT OF ONLINE SPACE AND PILOTING 5 47 953,00
WP5- DISSEMINATION OF THE PROJECT