Integrating Digital Media in Early Childhood Literacy: An Educational Communication Approach from Bandung, Indonesia

Authors

  • Nofha Rina

    School of Communication and Social Sciences, Telkom University, Bandung 40257, Indonesia
  • Catur Nugroho

    School of Communication and Social Sciences, Telkom University, Bandung 40257, Indonesia
  • Astri Wulandari

    School of Communication and Social Sciences, Telkom University, Bandung 40257, Indonesia
  • Mohamad Syahriar Sugandi

    School of Communication and Social Sciences, Telkom University, Bandung 40257, Indonesia
  • Clara Novita Anggraini

    School of Communication and Social Sciences, Telkom University, Bandung 40257, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.9851
Received: 3 May 2025 | Revised: 26 May 2025 | Accepted: 6 June 2025 | Published Online: 15 July 2025

Abstract

Early childhood literacy development in the digital era presents opportunities and challenges, particularly in aligning media content with children's cognitive, linguistic, and social development. This study explores integrating digital media and communication-based pedagogical methods to enhance literacy learning among early childhood learners in Bandung, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative intrinsic case study approach, the research involved interviews and observations with ten kindergarten teachers across five institutions. The study identifies a variety of digital and traditional media—such as educational videos, interactive storybooks, word cards, and digital applications—used to support foundational literacy skills. It also examines the application of instructional methods, including the School Literacy Movement, reading corners, discovery learning, and cooperative learning strategies. The findings underscore the significance of educational communication strategies in designing contextually appropriate, developmentally sensitive, and sustainable literacy practices. This research contributes to the discourse on early childhood education by highlighting how communication-centered approaches and digital integration can foster multi-dimensional literacy development, including reading, writing, social, scientific, and digital literacies. These insights offer practical implications for educators and policymakers seeking to innovate literacy instruction in early education settings through media-informed pedagogy.  Furthermore, the study highlights that digital media function not only as instructional aids but as communicative ecosystems that shape how children engage with language, symbols, and meaning. Through carefully curated media, teachers act as mediators who foster multimodal literacy and critical thinking.

Keywords:

Early Childhood Literacy; Digital Media; Educational Communication; Literacy Development; Bandung

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Rina, N., Nugroho, C., Wulandari, A., Syahriar Sugandi, M., & Anggraini, C. N. (2025). Integrating Digital Media in Early Childhood Literacy: An Educational Communication Approach from Bandung, Indonesia. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(7), 670–685. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i7.9851

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Vol. 7 , Iss. 7 (July 2025): In progress

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