Are emojis the hieroglyphics of the 21st century?

Are emojis a step forwards in how we communicate or are we reverting back to beyond the language of the ancient Egyptians?

This was the question posed in an article by Julia R Deathridge of the Petrie museum in London. It was a great starting point for debate at the beginning of a new term, labelled What Do You Think? Are emojis a useful shortcut or a reversion to only being able to communicate as far as the pictures will allow?

The elementary years in a Montessori setting are about helping children to think for themselves - to come up with good questions, apply their reasoning minds and make their own opinion. Great skills and abilities to support them in life generally and very useful for the turbulence of teenage years round the corner.