THE ROLE OF DIGITAL DEVICES IN THE LIVES OF PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN: PARENTS' EXPERIENCES

Date

2024-12

Author

Yıkılmaz, Tuğba

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The aim of this study is to explore parent’s experiences on the roles of digital devices in the lives of preschool-aged children. In this context, the device usage habits of children, the multifaceted roles (keeping children occupied, education and behavior management) these devices play in parenting and the difference in the roles of digital devices as parenting tools by the major demographic variables are examined. A survey research design is used in the study. The sample consists of 383 parents of preschool children studying in private and public schools in seven districts of Ankara. Data is collected through an online questionnaire. According to results of the study, children use digital devices frequently during weekday evenings. On weekends, device use is generally higher compared to weekdays, but usage is most frequent in the afternoons. Moreover, the results show that a substantial portion of children have unlimited access to digital devices. Furthermore, the most common digital activity children participate in is watching cartoons (97.7%), followed by watching videos (67.6%) and playing games (66.3%). Children mainly use televisions to watch cartoon, followed by smartphone. Moreover, the findings suggest that parents frequently use TV (43.6%) to keep their children occupied. The results also show that parents (38.6%) use educational applications to support their children’s learning. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that the use of digital devices for positive reinforcement varies significantly based on the age of children while also the use of digital devices for educational purposes varies based on the type of children’s school.

Subject Keywords

Digital Devices, Digital Usage of Children, Parenting Role, Parent Experiences, The role of Digital Devices

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/112918

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis