In June 2024, elections to the European Parliament will be held in all EU member states. For the first time in Germany, young people aged 16 and over are allowed to vote. The topic of elections raises questions for many young people. Even children are often interested in political issues. However, voting systems in particular are a complex topic that is difficult to understand even for many adults. We have compiled a selection of high-quality online services that provide children and young people with age-appropriate answers to their questions about elections and politics.
Kuppelkucker is the children’s website of the German Bundestag. Current news from the Bundestag for children aged 5 to 12 is published here twice a week. Explanations of terms and institutions of the German government can be found in the lexicon. Quizzes such as the election quiz and explanatory videos such as this one on the Bundestag elections offer an interactive experience of the site.
Logo!, the children’s news program of the public broadcaster, also devotes several contributions to the topic of elections and politics. An overview page explains various institutions in Germany, explains important terms and introduces individual parties. Logo! also offers articles about the EU and the European Parliament. The Logo! program is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12.
Südwestrundfunk regularly publishes child-friendly video and audio contributions on the SWR Kindernetz portal, supplemented by short knowledge articles. Here you can find some contributions on political topics such as women’s suffrage or the German constitution. Children can play an election quiz directly on the website.
Sendung mit der Maus has set up a special page on the subject of democracy and elections, on which various videos are available for children aged 5 and over.
Presenter Checker Tobi from Checker Welt deals with the topic of democracy and the importance of elections in the report Democracy Check, which is aimed at an audience aged 6 and over.
The well-known Was ist Was book series is aimed at children aged 8 and over. A brochure on democracy and elections in the typical Was ist Was style is available for free download on the website.
Geolino Spezial is a knowledge podcast for children. Episode 81 is all about elections.
The Hanisauland portal communicates political and social issues to children between the ages of 8 and 14 in a playful way. Knowledge articles and a lexicon explain important terms and topics. Children can post their own questions under the articles. The portal highlights special topics such as elections and the upcoming European elections. Children and young people can test what they have learned in the quiz on the topic of elections.
The knowledge section of the Federal Agency for Civic Education provides answers to the most important questions about democracy and elections in the form of articles and booklets.
“Who, how, what is Europe?” – these are the questions answered by the U18.org information page of the German Federal Youth Council. The focus here is on young people’s issues in politics, youth elections, events and political education.
The European Youth Portal offers young people living, learning and working in Europe the opportunity to find out about opportunities and initiatives at EU level and in the individual countries. The German Bundestag’s mitmischen.de portal encourages young people to become politically or journalistically active themselves.
Instagram channels for political education such as politikverstehen_ and nini_erklaert_politik make it easy and entertaining to understand what is currently being discussed in politics and society. On YouTube, influencers like LeFloid or networks like funk tackle social issues with factual accuracy and humor.
When it comes to political education, parents are an important role model for children. Emphasize the importance of elections and encourage your child to stand up for values such as democracy and social justice. Give your child access to age-appropriate news and information sites and search engines and talk to them about political issues. Because by gaining a certain basic understanding of democracy and elections, your child learns why their own opinion and vote are important. Do not force your child to do this, but build on their existing interest.
In connection with elections and democracy, disinformation and fake news are circulating on the internet and on social media platforms. Talk to your child about fake news online and explain to them how they can check news and content. HanisauLand or Team Timster offer programs for children and young people to educate them about fake news and the like.
Children have rights that have been enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1989. These include the right to health and the right to play and leisure. But a lot has changed since then. The rapid development of digital media and technologies has significantly changed the way children grow up. Digital media play an important role from an early age. We explain the key aspects of children’s rights in the digital world.
The digital world encompasses various digital technologies, from the internet and mobile devices to online games and social media. All children’s rights apply everywhere. Some rights play a special role:
Every child has the right to unrestricted and equal access to the digital world. However, this does not mean that children should use media without restriction. Depending on your child’s age and stage of development, you as parents can agree rules with your child on how long and which media may be used.
Like adults, children also have the right to freely express their opinions and obtain information. The Internet offers children the opportunity to obtain age-appropriate information in a variety of ways and to express and disseminate their own opinions. Make sure your child only accesses websites that are safe and suitable for children.
Every child has the right to privacy. As parents, you should therefore be aware of and considerate of your child’s personal rights on the Internet. Avoid disclosing personal data such as your child’s name or address. Ask your child for permission before you post photos of them online or send them via Messenger. Respecting your child’s privacy also means not checking your child’s smartphone out of curiosity. If you are concerned about your child, seek a trusting conversation with him or her.
Digital media offer children a wide range of opportunities to express themselves creatively, learn and network with their peers. Encourage your child to explore age-appropriate platforms such as the Knipsclub photo community and digital play worlds. Ensure a good balance with other activities. Encouraging creative play in the digital world allows your child to develop their imagination.
Every child has the right to equal access to education. With regard to the digitalized world, support from the family, nursery and school is important so that children learn to deal safely and responsibly with the opportunities and risks in the media world. Today, the right to media access is also always a right to access educational media offerings such as playful learning sites.
Children’s rights focus on the best interests of the child. Children must be protected from all forms of violence, abuse and poor treatment (such as cyberbullying, cybergrooming and hate speech) in all areas of life, including the digital sphere. Special youth protection programs can help to minimize risks. Talk to your child about security risks and problematic content on the internet to empower them to protect themselves.
Children have the right to network online with their peers, share common interests and form digital communities. Parents should encourage their children to use online platforms such as the helpando help site or participation platforms that are designed to be age-appropriate, safety-conscious and promote positive interactions. This allows children to cultivate digital friendships and develop important social skills for life in an increasingly networked world – always aware of the challenges and opportunities that the digital environment offers.
Talk to your child about their rights. The family plays an important role for children’s rights in the digital space. As parents, you have the task of enabling your child to grow up well. This also includes teaching them basic media skills and values. Therefore, find out about your child’s media use, stay in contact and make (joint) decisions that are appropriate for your child’s age and development. Cooperative cooperation and a respectful and trusting relationship are the basic prerequisites for your child to turn to you as a contact person in the event of problems. Children need to know their rights. Only then can they claim them for themselves and stand up for them. Incidentally, your importance as parents for the development and well-being of your child is also expressly emphasized in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Further information on children’s rights can be found in a child-friendly format on Kindersache and at Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk .
The media libraries of the public broadcasters also offer a wide range of entertainment and education for children. Parents will find numerous programs and series produced especially for children. In this article, we take a look at these media libraries, what they have to offer children, and what parents should keep in mind.
The ARD-Mediathek for children offers Parents a wide range of content suitable for children, such as “Die Sendung mit der Maus,” “Bibi und Tina” and “Wissen macht Ah! They are generally suitable for children between the ages of three and twelve and offer a good opportunity to introduce children to topics such as nature, technology and the environment in a playful way. “The Elephant Show” is a popular format for younger children. Mediathek has a wide range of news programs especially for young viewers. Children can follow current events there in a form suitable for children and find out about world events.
ZDFtivi is ZDF’s children’s and youth program with series, films, fairy tales, knowledge, documentaries and entertainment for children, such as “Bibi Blocksberg,” “The Jungle Book” and “JoNaLu. The program is mainly for children aged six to 13. Especially for older children and teenagers, there are, for example, “Die Pfefferkörner” and “Schloss Einstein” or learning programs such as “PUR+”. The media library also offers a wide range of interactive games and learning apps that teach children through play. ZDFchen offers videos for media beginners and preschoolers up to the age of six, such as “Zigby the Zebra” and “Lieselotte”.
KiKA is a joint channel of ARD and ZDF and is aimed at children aged three to 13. In the KIKA media library there are a wide selection of content suitable for children and young people, such as children’s films, series, documentaries and reports. It also offers content such as interactive games, craft and cooking instructions, and background information on shows. The online platform is not only an offer for children, but also for parents, educators and teachers with valuable material to accompany the programs, information on dealing with media and game ideas.
The funk -Mediathek is a joint service of ARD and ZDF with content for teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 29. It offers a wide selection of videos, reports and web series on topics such as politics, society, pop culture and science.
Also the regional programs like BR Children, MDR Children and SWR Children’s Network offer online children’s programming: For example kinder.WDR.de programs such as “Die Sendung mit dem Elefanten” and “Die Sendung mit der Maus.
All media libraries offer the option of downloading programs and watching them offline. The public broadcasters also offer apps with additional offerings for children, such as the ZDFtivi app or the KIKA player. However, apps are not discussed in this article.
All videos in the media libraries for children are suitable for them. There are no advertisements or solicitations to buy. However, children can enter the adult area of the media libraries from there, even if a warning sign appears when they leave the children’s area. In the adult section, there is content that is not suitable for children. In addition, children can also access external sites on the Internet or other media libraries on the Smart TV from the media libraries. You should therefore not let children under twelve surf without supervision.
Content that is not released until the age of 16 or 18 can only be accessed in the evening (after 8 or 10 p.m.) in all media libraries of the public broadcasters.
Make sure you have a healthy amount of screen time. This can vary depending on the child. Especially do not let younger children watch TV uncontrolled and pay attention to age recommendations and ratings. Watch together if possible, so you can answer questions and catch on if your child gets scared. Together, set rule for usage and choose which programs will be watched together with your child.
“Just ask a chatbot!” – or something similar could be the future motto when it comes to researching on the Internet or answering tricky questions. The chat program ChatGPT is currently the talk of the town, and even children and teenagers are trying out the language program. We provide an insight into the tool.
The chatbot gives users answers from the web using machine learning. We had a little chat with him.
Question: What is ChatGPT?
Answer: ChatGPT is a computer model developed by OpenAI to have conversations with humans. It is particularly good at answering questions and carrying on conversations, having been trained on large amounts of text.
Question: What kind of texts was ChatGPT trained with?
Answer: ChatGPT has been trained with texts such as news articles, books, conversations and other documents from the Internet.
Question: Please write a two-sentence summary of “George Orwell: 1984”.
Answer: “1984” by George Orwell is a dystopia in which a totalitarian government controls every aspect of its citizens’ lives. The protagonist, Winston Smith, works for the government but rebels against it and meets a woman named Julia, but is eventually captured and “reprogrammed.”
Question: Does ChatGPT have an answer for everything?
Answer: No, ChatGPT does not have an answer for everything. It is a computer model and can sometimes give wrong or inaccurate answers, especially to strange or unknown questions. It is important to check ChatGPT’s responses and use them with caution.
Question: What do children and teenagers do with ChatGPT?
Answer: Children and teenagers can talk to ChatGPT and ask it questions as they would with a friend or an online search engine. ChatGPT can help them find answers to questions that interest them. Some children also use it to improve their communication skills. It is important that children and young people learn how to use technology safely and responsibly, including ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is an advanced voice AI that can do more than traditional search engines and voice assistants. It can write original texts, carry on fluent conversations, translate texts into other languages, and perform complex tasks. It can be fascinating to see how quickly and straightforwardly replies and interesting and entertaining information is delivered. Some children and young people also simply enjoy a conversation with a virtual counterpart or unexpected answers. Also, the technology behind ChatGPT can be impressive and interactions with an AI exciting. This supports children and young people in their self-exploration and promotes creativity and linguistic skills.
According to OpenAI, children and young people should be protected as follows:
Explain to your child that not everything the chat program says is true or correct. ChatGPT has been trained with texts, and therefore only knows what it has seen. It can make mistakes. Make sure your child verifies the information they receive with other sources. It’s best to try this out together and explain to him how to deal with disinformation.
The chatbot can assist with school-related tasks. For example, he can describe something in simple words. ChatGPT should not do homework for your child. Explain to your child that ChatGPT is a tool and not a perfect source. ChatGPT cannot think.
Stay in conversation with your child and educate them about dangerous content online. The chatbot has also been trained with texts that may be inappropriate for your child. Work out boundaries and rules for use together.
You and your child should not submit any personal information. Encourage your child to let you know if there is a problem. Make sure your child understands how to protect his or her privacy.
A bad event, such as the start of the war in Ukraine, usually dominates media coverage or street conversations for days. Children get to hear what adults are preoccupied with and are thus confronted with frightening, current events. It is hardly possible and makes little sense to keep children and young people completely away from the news. In this article, we explain how young people can be accompanied on the subject of news and what age-appropriate offers there are.
Many parents rightly wonder how to explain such events to children without frightening them. Adult news overwhelms children due to its complexity and the depictions of e.g. catastrophes, terror and violence. Especially pictures or videos are often still unsuitable for them, as they are difficult to classify and process. In times of fake news and many news sources that are difficult to assess, children and young people should be strengthened in their ability to understand, analyze and evaluate news in an age-appropriate way.
A variety of safe news services suitable for children are available for this purpose. They offer a wide range of topics and cover children’s interests. Your child will find news here conveyed in an age-appropriate way, in understandable language, with simple and clear sentences. In addition, dramatic and frightening images and videos are avoided. Sometimes children even become reporters themselves and report on events from their own perspective.
Examples of messages for children and young people on the Internet are
The children’s search engines blinde-kuh.de and fragfinn.de help to check news from different sites in a quick run. Here, articles from various child-friendly offers are displayed at a glance.
Podcasts have also long since arrived in the children’s room. In short audio files, children can get an overview of what is happening in the world right now. News in audio format comes entirely without frightening images, creating an inclusive opportunity for all children who cannot read or see.
Interesting examples of podcasts are:
Young people inform themselves less via linear television and more via social media platforms such as
YouTube
,
Instagram
and
TikTok
. Social networks and messengers are not only home to serious news offerings, but it is precisely there that young people are confronted with disinformation and opinion mongering, for example on extremist positions. The following formats from public broadcasters and other providers are recommended:
The following also applies to messages suitable for children: Depending on the child’s individual stage of development, you should watch or listen to messages specifically for the respective age group together with your child. Younger children in particular absorb news unfiltered and have difficulty assessing the extent to which the content affects them and influences their lives. Especially with bad events it is important to classify them well. Take your child’s fears seriously, talk to him about them, and comfort him. This will help your child understand the message and process it well.
For young people, it is important to continuously strengthen their information literacy. Give your child access to youth-friendly news portals. Stay in touch about what is happening on a daily basis and also talk critically about sources. Educate your child about phenomena like fake news, conspiracy myths, and propaganda, and set a good example by getting news only from reputable sources.
This scavenger hunt, which works with a smartphone or GPS device, is also fun for older kids and teens. Try it out and go on this special treasure hunt together with your child.
Geocaching involves using a GPS receiver to find small treasures that other players have hidden in different places. These caches are located in cans or jars of different sizes. The respective GPS location is registered on a platform, e.g. geocaching.com or opencaching.de, and can be saved and retrieved via app. Whoever finds a cache enters his or her name in a so-called logbook, which is attached to the cache. After that, the can is closed again and hidden in the same place, so that the next person also has to look for it.
Geocaching is a popular hobby among adults, children and teenagers. The treasures are hidden all over the world, so even on vacation you can go in search and discover exciting places. For some geocachers, it’s all about finding as many caches as possible and signing logbooks around the world.
There are caches in different categories and sizes. All important information is in the cache description. Some caches require special equipment for the search. With puzzle caches, tasks must be solved beforehand in order to get the GPS coordinates. Depending on the cache, children as young as 4 can join the treasure hunt. Older children can already read the descriptions themselves and be more independent in their search.
Some caches are not easy to find. This can quickly frustrate children. Therefore, read the cache description carefully beforehand. Often there are still important hints in the comments of the digital logbook (under each cache description). Occasionally it happens that a cache is no longer in hiding because someone has destroyed it or taken it away.
In some caches are barter items, such as a toy figure, a coin or the like. Some items have a mission. For example, they are to get to another country or place by barter. All information is available on the geocaching platform. An important rule is that geocachers search inconspicuously so as not to draw the attention of so-called muggles to the cache. Throwing away trash or destroying the landscape is not welcomed in the geocaching community and is against the rules of geocaching.
Your child loves taking pictures and maybe wants to be a photographer one day? For Instagram it may still be too young, but in the Knipsclub it can learn more about photography in a child-friendly way and exchange ideas with others.
The photo community Knipsclub is suitable for 8- to 12-year-olds. Knipsclub is a platform where they can publish their own photos, share them with others, and talk about them. Knipsclub offers a protected space on the Internet for this purpose. Through animations, video clips and hands-on activities, children learn more about photography and safe behavior on the Internet, e.g. on topics such as Data protection, copyrights and secure communication with others. In the “Knipstipps” tips are given, e.g., for the correct picture detail, the correct light or the use of filters and how one can work on a picture.
Many children love picture stories or comics and like to draw. With photos, they can discover their environment in a new way and learn how to deal with (digital) technology. Children at this age are curious and want to know a lot.Many are already on the Internet. At Knipsclub they can gain their first experience and learn what they need to watch out for, e.g. that you can’t simply upload pictures of others to the upload to the Internet.
Take your child’s wish seriously if they like to share their photos and be independent on the web. Social networks such as Instagramoffer little protection and no guidance for children and are only recommended from a minimum age of 13. There, they may encounter advertising, cyberbullying, and cybergrooming, which can overwhelm or frighten them.
In Knipsclub, you can slowly introduce your child to using the Internet. You must upload a written consent form to register. Familiarize your child with the rules on the net and discover the platform together. Start a collaborative photo project. Here you will find some ideas for this.
Through fragFINN, children only surf on checked Internet sites. As a result, they do not encounter inappropriate content.
The search engine for children displays only harmless content in the results based on verified websites. The examination of the Internet sites is carried out by a media pedagogical team. The children’s search engine is used to find children’s sites and harmless adult sites (e.g. zoo sites, club sites). The children’s pages are played out first in the search results.
On the fragFINN homepage, children can also find surfing tips on many different topics. Children can get involved as fragFINN children’s reporters and meet famous personalities.
When displaying search results, websites are identified by the icons “Children”, “Knowledge” and “International”. This makes the search results easier to classify for children.
When using the search function on the website and in the app, the user’s search query is sent directly to the fragFINN server in Germany. No user data is collected or stored in the process.
The fragFINN app can also be installed on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.
Children’s search engines offer a safe introduction to the world of the Internet. They can be a good preparation for using common and well-known search engines. The pre-testing of all content provides a very high level of security for your child. Nevertheless, you should accompany your child, especially when using it for the first time, and explore the search engine together. This way you can explain important functions for the search in more detail.
If your child finds a page among the results that scares him/her, he/she can report it using the “Report page” button. The alarms received are checked daily. Your child also has the opportunity to suggest websites. The media education team checks the pages and can approve them for the children’s search engine if necessary. Moreover, the search engine is particularly compatible with additional child protection solutions such as JusProg.
Further information for parents can be found here: eltern.fragFINN.de
The platform TikTok is used a lot and with pleasure, especially by young people. However, the app is not without controversy. Due to a lack of youth protection measures and questionable challenges, parents in particular have concerns.TikTok wants to improve the platform’s image with campaigns centered around positive content. For example, experts are encouraged to share their expertise on TikTok. Users get little learning snacks in the form of TikTok videos under the hashtag #lernenmittiktok (#learnwithtiktok). From facts from medicine and science, learning aids for foreign languages to cooking tips – the topics are wide-ranging and experts from different fields join in.
The videos with an “aha” effect can motivate children and young people to engage with learning content. Topics that are usually discussed in school are packaged in entertaining videos and taught in an entertaining way by TikTokers. Young people can continue their education without school pressure. They are addressed emotionally and content can stick better.
Such learning content can be searched for specifically on TikTok. In addition to #lernenauftiktok and #lernen, other terms can also be entered in the search box. For example, if your child is particularly interested in creative writing or needs help learning German, you can browse together for suitable videos and profiles. Through the comment function under individual videos, your child can ask questions and exchange ideas with other users about the content.
The platform is and remains an entertainment medium. Learning content is not separate from other content on TikTok. If your child uses the app to watch learning snacks, they can quickly end up on other profiles or videos that are simply entertaining and distracting. So it’s more of a nice value-add that comes with this campaign than a serious learning opportunity.
Every TikToker can tag their videos with the hashtag #lernenmittiktok. Nobody checks if the content is correct and helpful for learning. In this way, false and less well-researched information can also be disseminated. Children and young people often find it difficult to assess how trustworthy a source is. Therefore, talk to your child about fake news and take a close look at the profiles and content.
It’s great when kids learn about this content on TikTok, too, or maybe even create their own educational tidbits for friends. Thus, the platform can be a motivating support for learning.
The negative sides of the app do not disappear with it. Since it is a social media platform and users communicate with each other, there is also a risk of inappropriate content and bullying in the comment columns. Educate your child about the risks of the app and offer your support. Reassure your child that he or she can contact you at any time should he or she face cyberbullying or insults online.
“Just one more round!” or “Leon gets to watch TV much longer!” Almost all parents know this. What media is okay for my child? How much media time is not harmful? At what age does it make sense to have your own smartphone? For such issues, fixed rules can be a great help for parents and children. But they also lead to conflicts in families time and again. We have compiled some tips and background information for you.
Rules are not simply there for adults to determine things; they bring structure to family life. Media usage rules can be used to promote children’s media literacy. As parents, you have a special responsibility to keep an eye on fun and benefits associated with media, but also on risks and dangers. For quite some time, you will be able to assess both better than your child. It is important that your child understands the rules. Therefore, you should be able to justify for yourself and also to your child why certain rules apply and why it is important to follow them. If rules are not clearly stated or are interpreted differently, your child will have a hard time following them. However, this also means that certain rules apply to you as parents and that you act as a role model.
Which rules make sense depends on the age of your child and on how you and your child generally deal with media. It’s not the same in every family.
The younger your child is, the more you should keep an eye on his or her media use. Young children need close supervision and should not spend too much time with media. As parents, decide on age-appropriate content, length of use, and appropriate devices. From elementary school age, your child gets many new impressions and influences. It still needs a lot of orientation, so clear rules are very important. You can now better talk to your child about content and let him or her have a say. From secondary school and adolescence at the latest, you should then trust your child to be more independent and increasingly relinquish control. Young people usually approach digital media openly, but they often cannot yet properly assess security risks. That is why you are still important as an orientation and contact person!
Depending on the age of your child, agree on rules for media use together – for example, by means of a media usage contract. Then your child can better understand and comply with them. Write down rules and place them visibly. Exceptions can also be formulated. Regularly check whether the rules still make sense or can and must be changed. Also, set rules that apply to everyone, such as not taking out the smartphone during a conversation.
A big point of contention is the question of how much time with media is good. In addition to age, this also depends on your child and his or her individual approach to media. Does it quickly get lost in series or computer games or can it put the tablet aside at the end of an episode without any problems? The rule of thumb is: the younger, the less! Media vouchers are a way for children of elementary school age and older to set a weekly budget for a media device, for example. Sometimes this is easier and your child can manage their own time.
It is important that your child has a varied daily routine, uses media in different ways, but also has media-free experiences.
Do you have the entire media ensemble in view? Radio plays and books are also part of media consumption and may appear in the rulebook.
Take into account that the content of media use varies greatly, as do the motives and needs of use. A game for mere diversion or entertainment may be weighted differently than learning with media. Make qualitative distinctions together with your child. Be sure to include age-appropriate content as well.
The question of the right age for the first smartphone occupies many parents. Perhaps consult with parents of your child’s friends and consider whether certain rules can apply to everyone.
When it comes to getting your own phone for the first time or using mom’s tablet, setting options can also restrict access to various content and apps. However, these should be discussed together. Such settings or certain apps can help enforce rules. But these tools are no substitute for guidance from you as parents. Explanations from you and conversations about media make a significant contribution to your child learning to use media competently.
Rules may vary depending on the child’s age and stage of development. On the one hand, stay consistent, otherwise they will not serve their purpose. At the same time, if possible, do not use the rules as a punishment or reward.
It all started as a tutoring channel on YouTube. Today, simpleclub is much more and the explanatory videos found there are also used in teaching, for example. Thesimpleclub learning app is designed to help students prepare effectively for an exam.
The service is advertised as “Germany’s most intelligent learning app” because the learning content is to be adapted to the individual user. Originally, simpleclub only had explanatory videos on YouTube. Meanwhile, in addition to learning videos, the app also provides practice exercises and summaries that can be used to work through school topics.
Due to the simple language and the visual support with e.g. arrows, pictures and symbols, the videos are very suitable to better understand certain topics or to consolidate the content of the topic.
The Youtube presence of simpleclub consists of several channels, divided according to different subject areas (German, biology, geography, history, mathematics, economics, etc.). There are regularly new learning videos on various topics (such as biology: nerve cell, mathematics: sine and cosine derivation). The videos are no more than ten minutes long and explain various topics in a simple and interesting way. It is noticeable that casual language is always used in the videos.
In addition, an individual study plan can be created via the app, which enables better preparation for upcoming exams. In the free version of the app, there is only a selection of videos. The paid basic version (approx. 4,- €/month) contains all videos. With the Unlimited Version (approx. 8,- €/month) the individual learning plans can be created including interactive exercises, detailed solution paths and a finished summary as download. The individual adaptation of the contents is done by specifying one’s own federal state and which type of school one attends.
The presentation of the videos appeals to young people because they don’t come across as dull and matter-of-fact, but instead use casual language. In between, funny video sequences or emojis are inserted, which combine learning with fun. The videos are short and do not require a long attention span. Basically, children and young people are familiar with explainer videos on YouTube and like to use them.
The people behind simpleclub seem likeable and are closer in age to the students’ lives than many a teacher. For many young people they are certainly role models and offer a change from the monotonous school lessons.
It’s not entirely clear who creates the videos. The provider’s website says it is a team “of students from the best universities in Germany.” Whether they have experience in creating learning materials in addition to professional knowledge remains unclear.
The presentation of simpleclub is very professional, but at the same time it looks like a big advertising offer. Both on the website, in the app and on YouTube – everywhere there are ads and notices that you should register with simpleclub for a fee.
There is a large amount of videos on the various YouTube channels. It is not easy to find the right one for you there. Again, the providers want you to use their paid offer and makes it difficult for users of the free videos.
The operators of simpleclub – Alexander Giesecke and Nicolai Schork – say they regularly read through requests for new videos and suggestions for improvement and also address them in their videos. For example, they responded by lowering the price of their app because some students were concerned they would not be able to afford it. During the Corona crisis, they offer schools free aid packages of their videos.
As with all videos on the net, it should be noted that not all of them are good and correct. Therefore, when choosing, it is best to pay attention to how other users comment on the videos. If you are unsure if a video is true, you can also play a video to teachers and other adults who know about the topic and ask for advice. Then the videos can be a good supplement to the school lessons and for learning at home.
Try out the offers from simpleclub first via YouTube or the free version of the app before you sign up for a subscription. Try it out to see if your child can learn with it and talk about it with your child.
What to do when the child sits at home because the school is closed, although it is not a vacation. Parentsguide.online has a few suggestions on how to learn without going to school:
– Our article Tutoring on the Internet – Lessons are just a click away is about the benefits of learning videos, online tutoring services and more.
– YouTube is one of the most popular online platforms for children and young people. There are not only funny videos with high entertainment value. As in our post When Videos on the Internet Replace the Encyclopedia you can also learn a lot here.
– In times of crisis, it is especially important for children to understand why adults are restless. For this purpose, news for children are suited best because they explain current information in a way that is appropriate for children.
– Even watching movies or series can teach you something! Why not try watching your child’s favorite show in English together.
– Computer games can also help you learn things, as our post Improving skills with online gaming explains. Play is also a principle of various learning opportunities: Making life a game with Gamification.
– For younger children who do not yet go to school but normally go to daycare, suitable learning tools include Digital story apps.
– When it shouldn’t always be the TV or tablet: The range of podcasts on a wide range of topics for children of all ages is huge.
Children and young people want to understand the world. The older they get, the more they inform themselves on social networks – including about current news. For example, they watch videos by YouTubers LeFloid and MrWissen2Go, which summarize and comment on daily topics. News formats on YouTube are popular with young people primarily because they are easy to understand, short and entertaining. Unlike on television or in newspapers, however, virtually anyone can upload and distribute content on the Internet. But who controls the truthfulness of the content on YouTube?
The success of YouTube videos depends on clicks and views. The funnier and more exaggerated content is presented, the more often it is clicked and reaches more people. The quality or accuracy of the content does not necessarily matter.
YouTube is not an educational service, but a commercial platform of Google. The content does not come from Google, but from the users themselves. Thousands of videos are uploaded every day. False reports can also end up on YouTube and remain visible until YouTube is made aware of them and can have them checked.
Some YouTubers like to include their personal opinions on current topics. Of course, this is particularly exciting for young people because they want to form their own opinions. However, they can also be quickly influenced. Some people take advantage of this and want to convince young people in particular of their opinion. Children and young people can therefore come into contact with populist and extremist content on YouTube. The comment function is also used to spread false news and propaganda channels.
Should we believe what is said or not? Some questions can help to classify it: What the main message of the video? Do I feel informed by the video or am I agitated? Is a bad mood being created against certain people or groups? To influence the feelings of the viewers, dramatic music or shocking images are used, for example. If there is no information about who made the video and where the knowledge is from, one should be skeptical and try to verify the statements.
You don’t decide alone which videos are displayed on YouTube. Depending on what terms you have already searched for and what videos you have watched, YouTube will suggest other videos that you might therefore like. It is programmed that way. This can create a one-sided view of the world because other perspectives and information are less present….
Despite these risks, help your child stay informed about world events. If you are up to speed yourself, you may be able to answer his questions yourself. Or you can research answers together. This way, your child learns what to look for when searching for information on the web and how to classify it. In the article “All fake? Recognizing Fake News” you will find tips on how to do this. Good sources are usually the offerings of public service media, as these must meet certain journalistic criteria. You can also find them on YouTube – e.g. in the various formats of funk which are especially tailored to the interests of people between the ages of 14 and 25.
The need to inform themselves and develop their own opinions is important for children and young people to be able to help shape society one day as adults. YouTube can also be useful for school.
Painting pictures, kneading or making funny figures out of chestnuts… These are typical things you’ve probably done with your kids at home. But making media yourself?! Typically, you only watch them or maybe play a computer game. It’s not that hard to get creative and produce something together. And it’s fun too!
Today, there is at least one smartphone in every household. Tablets are also present in many families. These devices offer countless possibilities for media production that are easy to try out because most of them are not complicated at all. Smartphone and tablet have at least one camera and a built-in microphone. There are also plenty of apps for creative design in the app stores – for image editing and creating photo collages, for producing cartoons and editing videos, for painting and making radio plays, and much more.
By producing media yourself, you can learn a lot and have a lot of fun – kids and adults alike! You learn the technical handling of the equipment and how certain media are made. You learn that it takes a little time for a product to look the way you want it to. But making media is not just something for the elderly. Even kindergarten children can make simple animated films or edit photos. Perhaps you will discover previously hidden talents in your child.
In the posts below this one, you’ll find our media-making guides to try out with your kids.
Would your son rather spend hours fighting Fortnite monsters than learning vocabulary? Or is your daughter intensively building a city in Minecraft and forgetting her math homework? Of course, playing is often more fun than learning. To increase motivation, more and more learning material in education is therefore being taught in a playful and digital way.
Gamification involves transferring principles – such as competition and reward – from games to other contexts that actually have nothing to do with games – such as education. Linking learning material to a story is also referred to as learning through play.
So when your child reaches level five in vocabulary learning or cracks the class high score in mental arithmetic and receives a sticker as a prize for it, these are typical examples of gamification.
Gamification can make learning more effective. This is because students learn with less pressure and anxiety, while creative skills are released. In addition, they are better able to memorize learning material, as it is often conveyed much more vividly.
When it comes to learning through play with digital media, students’ motivation increases when they learn with a computer and tablet and the learning software is more reminiscent of an animated computer game than dull physics homework.
Many schools are therefore using more and more digital games and apps in the classroom. Whether it’s building cities with Minecraft in geography class, playing digital scavenger hunts with Actionbound in history, or creating an explainer film in German class. However, many schools lack appropriate equipment, software and accompaniment. Digital, game-based learning can therefore also take place from home.
Scoyo is a learning platform where learning takes place rather incidentally: Your child can practice math together with the math pirates on the math planet and translate words and sentences on the vocabulary island with a soccer team to kick the ball into the goal. Points are awarded for the correct solution, which can then be redeemed for a bicycle or new sports shoes for the avatar. The material is adapted to grade level, school type and state. An alternative offering is available at sofatutor.com. Both are also available as an app. Many apps for younger children also work on the principle, so that letters or numbers are learned in the form of a game.
You might think that textbooks and vocabulary cards will soon be irrelevant. But analog learning remains important and should not be completely replaced: For example, people read very differently on paper than on a screen. And handwriting vocabulary is probably still the best way to memorize the correct spelling.
