The overall objective of the Digital Upbringing project was to develop and implement an education project supporting parents and subsequently their children and educators to develop the digital competences needed to safely navigate the digital world. The project aimed to support the horizontal areas of ‘digital transformation’ and ‘inclusion and diversity’. Each Work Package had its own specific objectives which included: WP1: Deliver a project which not only offers unique resources and opportunities to the target group but also builds the capacity of the consortium. WP2: Develop the digital parenting competencies of a minimum of 180 parents, in the six areas of a ‘Digital Competency Framework for Parents’. WP3: Create more community-based digital parenting and family media awareness initiatives. WP4: Equip trainers to develop and implement workshops and learning events with confidence. WP5: Share the project results to a large audience and raise awareness of how parents can support their families' safe, secure, responsible and creative use of digital tools and online media.
The decision to apply for this project was driven by the need to support the ample Europe Digital Agendas which are now in operation. It was evident from consortiums needs analysis that there is a requirement for innovative, educational programmes such as Digital Upbringing that supports disadvantaged parents and guardians to understand the digital world, with a particular emphasis on digital safety. It is necessary for parents today to understand the threats which may prevail regarding their children’s online engagement. Parents need to have the foundational knowledge to recognise if a risk arises and how they can mitigate against such a risk. Digital Upbringing as a project addresses the digital readiness, resilience’s and capacity of families and educators across Europe through the development of a range of resources that are fit for purpose, easy to use and readily available.