“It was a survival tool”: Parental perspectives of preschooler media use during the COVID-19 pandemic

Référence

*Almeida ML, Silva PS, Frizzo GB, Fitzpatrick C. (2024). “It was a survival tool”: Parental perspectives of preschooler media use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dans G Frizzo (dir.), Digital media and Early Child Development: Theoretical and Empirical issues. Springer, États-Unis d'Amérique.

Résumé

As key gatekeepers of their children’s screen use, gaining a deeper understanding of parental perspectives regarding this use remains vital. In this chapter, we seek to explore parental perceptions of their children’s screen use, along with their perspectives on the harms and benefits of this use, considering the COVID-19 pandemic as a historical stressor for families. We discuss these objectives from a narrative review and an analysis of parental responses to the question, “Please share experiences of your child’s screen use during the COVID-19 crisis.” Consistent with prior research, most parents acknowledged an increase in children’s screen time during the pandemic. Parents reported that screen use provided stress relief, enhanced their well-being, and kept their children busy. Parents who noticed no changes or a decrease in child screen use described fewer changes in their routines, reported using more restrictive mediation, and engaged in more outdoor activities. Parental perspectives on the use of digital media suggest that screen media use is embedded in a complex system that should be considered when planning family interventions or clinical guidance on the use of family media.