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Agency, participation and curiosity in very young children's interactions with digital media in their homes in the UK

Julia Gillen, Rosie Flewitt, Sandra El Gemayel, Lorna Arnott, Janet Goodall Orcid Logo, Katerina McLaughlin, Sinnia Mevawalla, Karen Wnter

European Early Childhood Education Research Association Conference - Lisbon, Portugal

Swansea University Author: Janet Goodall Orcid Logo

Abstract

Toddlers, Tech and Talk (2022-2024) aims to investigate behaviours and attitudes towards digital media at home across diverse communities in the UK. Here, we focus on parental reports of their 0-3 year-old children's participation in digital practices at home; curiosity and agentic use of diver...

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Published in: European Early Childhood Education Research Association Conference - Lisbon, Portugal
Published: 2023
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70770
Abstract: Toddlers, Tech and Talk (2022-2024) aims to investigate behaviours and attitudes towards digital media at home across diverse communities in the UK. Here, we focus on parental reports of their 0-3 year-old children's participation in digital practices at home; curiosity and agentic use of diverse devices. First, we relate to previous and ongoing studies of young children’s interactions with digital media in the home learning environment, e.g. Chaudron et al (2018), Kumpulainen et al (2022), DigiLitEY COST Action, and ARC Centre for the Digital Child, identifying a need for research in this dynamic area. Second, we draw on a rich vein of investigations of the significance of agency, participation and curiosity to children’s play, learning and holistic wellbeing. Concepts such as the postdigital and sociomaterialism enable us to work towards novel understandings of the very young child’s participation in a “togetherness in an entangled moment” Kuby & Rucker, 2016: 17). Our mixed method research is constructed in three phases: 1) Survey of 1000+ parents and guardians; 2) Interviewing 40 parents and 20 ECEC-related professionals; 3) 40 Case studies with a "methods palette”. Our detailed ethical framework is constantly interrogated amongst the interdisciplinary team members to ensure that research is as respectful as possible of all participants, whatever their community or language (BERA 2018). We summarise findings relating to parental reports of children’s participation, curiosity and agency in digital practices at home, paying close attention to entanglements in the moment. Findings will inform ECEC policy and practice on very young children's digital security and technology use.
College: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Funders: ESRC