Signs and symbols in media — Media, 4–6 years
Small pictures and marks can carry a meaning that many people learn to recognise. They help us find, choose or understand something without a long explanation.
A mark can mean something
A symbol is a picture or mark that stands for an idea, object or action. A heart can suggest love, a play triangle can tell us to start a video, and a bin symbol can show where rubbish belongs.
Why use symbols?
Symbols save time and can work when people do not share a language. A row of icons on a washing machine helps someone choose a setting quickly, without reading every word or asking another person.
Reading three familiar symbols
On a screen, Mia sees a triangle, two vertical lines and a speaker with a cross. First, the triangle tells her “play”. Next, the two lines tell her “pause”. Finally, the crossed speaker tells her the sound is off, so she should not expect to hear anything.
A symbol is not always universal
It is reasonable to guess a symbol from what it looks like, but people can learn different meanings for the same mark. A picture that means “play” on one device may look like an arrow or a button elsewhere, so checking the nearby words can help.
Finding your way and choosing
Symbols appear on maps, lifts, toilets, apps, toys and signs in public places. You use them when you follow an arrow, press a camera icon or find the accessible toilet symbol; they give a quick clue, but an adult or words may still be needed.
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