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CHILDREN’S USE OF INTERACTIVE MEDIA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD - AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To describe the prevalence of interactive media (tablets and smartphones) use by children aged two to four years old, as well as to characterize this use, and investigate habits, practices, parents’ participation and opinion about their child’s interactive media use.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study with 244 parents or legal guardians of children enrolled in daycare centers in a small Brazilian municipality was conducted. A questionnaire based on interactive media use and related habits were applied, and economic level was assessed. Children were divided into three different groups according to media use: Group 1 did not use (n=81); Group 2 uses up to 45 min/day (n=83) and Group 3 uses more than 45 min/day (n=80). Then, they were compared with regard to the sociodemographic variables and media use by the Chi-square test and Student’s t-test.

Results:

The prevalence of interactive media use was 67.2%, with a mean time of use of 69.2 minutes/day (confidence interval of 95% - 95%CI 57.1-81.2). The activities most performed were watching videos (55%), listening to music (33%) and playing games (28%). Most parents reported allowing media use in order to stimulate their child’s development (58.4%), accompanying them during use (75.2%), and limiting media time (86.4%).

Conclusions:

We observed high interactive media use prevalence. The predominant way of using these devices was marked by parent-child participation. Most parents reported believing in the benefits of interactive media. Passive activities were more frequent, with restricted time of use.

Keywords:
Child; Mobile applications; Smartphone; Epidemiology; Child development

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Descrever a prevalência do uso de mídias interativas (tablets e smartphones) pelas crianças de dois a quatro anos de idade, assim como caracterizar esse uso, investigar hábitos, práticas, participação e opinião dos pais acerca da sua utilização.

Métodos:

Estudo transversal com 244 pais ou responsáveis de crianças matriculadas em creches de um município brasileiro de pequeno porte. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre hábitos de utilização de mídias interativas e investigação do nível econômico. As crianças foram divididas em 3 grupos de acordo com o uso das mídias: grupo 1 - não utiliza; grupo 2 - utiliza até 45 minutos por dia; e grupo 3 - utiliza mais do que 45 minutos por dia. Os grupos foram comparados quanto às variáveis sociodemográficas e de caracterização do uso das mídias por meio dos testes do qui-quadrado e t de Student.

Resultados:

A prevalência do uso de mídias interativas foi de 67,2%, com tempo médio de utilização de 69,2 minutos por dia (intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 57,1-81,2). As atividades mais realizadas foram: ver vídeos (55%), escutar músicas (33%) e jogar games (28%). A maioria dos pais relatou permitir a utilização da mídia para estimular o desenvolvimento do seu filho (58,4%), acompanhá-lo durante o uso (75,2%) e limitar o tempo com a mídia (86,4%).

Conclusões:

Observou-se elevada prevalência do uso de mídias interativas. A forma predominante de utilização das mídias envolve conjuntamente crianças e pais, os quais acreditam nos seus efeitos benéficos. Atividades passivas são as mais realizadas, com restrição do tempo de uso.

Palavras-chave:
Criança; Aplicativos móveis; Smartphone; Epidemiologia; Desenvolvimento infantil

INTRODUCTION

The use of interactive media is on the rise among young children. 11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,22. Radesky JS, Christakis DA. Increased Screen Time: implications for early childhood development and behavior. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016;63:827-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,33. Ahearne C, Dilworth S, Rollings R, Livingstone V, Murray D. Touch-screen technology usage in toddlers. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:181-3. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-309278
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
They have incorporated the use of devices such as smartphones and tablets into their daily routine. This equipment is part of a multimedia system that concomitantly integrates various visual and audio elements (sounds, digital images, compact discs, etc.), which are controlled by computers. The system favors the most effective interaction with a user, as it motivates self-learning and interactive participation.44. Piñeiro ES, González CR. Repercusión de la interactividad y los nuevos medios de comunicación en los procesos educativos. Investigación y Postgrado. 2006;21:187-209.,55. Carson V, Janssen I. Associations between factors within the home setting and screen time among children aged 0-5 years: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:539. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-539
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...

Media is being used for a variety of purposes, such as entertainment, leisure, as a distraction in the absence of parents, family communication, and complementary learning through apps.66. Brindova D, Pavelka J, Ševčikova A, Žežula I, van Dijk JP, Reijneveld SA, et al. How parents can affect excessive spending of time on screen-based activities. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:1261. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1261
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,77. Wu CS, Fowler C, Lam WY, Wong HT, Wong CH, Yuen Loke A. Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-40-44
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,88. AAP Council On Communications and Media. Media and young minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138:e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1542/...
In addition, interactive media devices are practical and can be carried and used anywhere, which facilitates and enhances children and adolescents’ exposure to these devices.99. Robles EV, Grau RP, Latorre FL, Molina SM, Romera VV, Sanz EP. Impacto del abuso de pantallas sobre el desarrollo mental. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2009;11:413-23.

There is a growing number of investigations on this subject, with a significant number of studies focusing on the implications of electronic exhibition media related to the use of television and, more recently, publications based on interactive electronic media,11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,1010. Vanderloo LM. Screen-viewing among preschoolers in childcare: a systematic review. BMC Pediatr. 2014;14:205. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-205
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,1111. Goh SN, Teh LH, Tay WR, Anantharaman S, van Dam RM, Tan CS, et al. Sociodemographic, home environment and parental influences on total and device-specific screen viewing in children aged 2 years and below: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e009113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009113
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,1212. Assathiany R, Guery E, Caron FM, Cheymol J, Picherot G, Foucaud P, et al. Children and screens: a survey by French pediatricians. Arch Pediatr. 2018;25:84-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2017.11.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2017.11...
considering that many questions arise as to the consequences of young children’s continued use of these media and the repercussions on their cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional development.22. Radesky JS, Christakis DA. Increased Screen Time: implications for early childhood development and behavior. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016;63:827-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
Experts, associations, and scientific societies around the world88. AAP Council On Communications and Media. Media and young minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138:e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1542/...
,1313. Bach JF, Houdé O, Léna P, Tisseron S. L’enfant et les écrans. Un avis de l’Académie des sciences. Paris: Éditions Le Pommier et Institut de France - Académie des sciences. Prix International Roberval; 2013.,1414. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) [homepage on the Internet]. Departamento Adolescência. Manual de Orientação. Saúde da criança e adolescentes na era digital. Rio de Janeiro: SBP; 2016 [cited 2018 Jan. 05]. Available from: Available from: http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upload/2016/11/19166d-MOrient-Saude-Crian-e-Adolesc.pdf
http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upl...
seek to establish recommendations on the use of media, but how parents receive and follow these guidelines is still divergent. The literature reports that 75% of two- and three-year-olds exceed recommended use time, 11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
and parents, when questioned, report partially following the recommendations of the American Pediatric Association regarding media use.1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
In addition, they are often prompted by doubts and uncertainties about the use of new technology in their families and are concerned about the potential negative effects of technology use on their children’s future.1616. Genc Z. Parents’ perceptions about the mobile technology use of preschool aged children. Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2014;146:55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.08.086
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...

Thus, there is an explicit need for studies on the way to use media and how much time media is used in order to provide adequate support when offering and limiting the use of this new technology. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of interactive media use by children aged two to four years old, as well as characterize its use, investigate habits, practices, and the participation and opinion of parents regarding its use.

METHOD

This is a cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling of the use of interactive media by two- to four-year-old children, regularly enrolled in public and private schools in a small Brazilian city. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), under CAAE number 55459916.0.0000.5108.

The study included 244 parents or guardians of children between 24 and 47 months of age, enrolled in the private and public education system of Diamantina, Minas Gerais. The previous sample calculation was performed using the G Power 3.1.9.2 software. For the calculation, the prevalence of mobile interactive media use was estimated at 39%,1717. Commom Sense Media [homepage on the internet]. Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America. San Francisco (USA): Commom Sense Media; 2013 [cited 2017 Nov. 10]. Available from: Available from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america .
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/researc...
with a desired accuracy of 5%, a confidence interval of 95% (95%CI), and a power of study of 80%. Considering the population of 576 children from 24 to 47 months of age, enrolled in the private and public school systems of the municipality studied, an adjustment to the finite number was performed, resulting in 223 children. To this value, 10% was added to compensate for possible losses, reaching a minimum of 245 subjects, who were randomly selected according to the parent or guardians’ availability to answer the questionnaire. All of the parents were eligible to participate in the study. Those who answered the questionnaire incompletely or who did not sign the informed consent form were excluded.

A questionnaire created by the researchers according to information available in the literature about interactive media habits was applied.22. Radesky JS, Christakis DA. Increased Screen Time: implications for early childhood development and behavior. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016;63:827-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,1818. Vatavu RD, Cramariuc G, Schipor DM. Touch interaction for children aged 3 to 6 years: experimental findings and relationship to motor skills. Int J Human-Computer Studies. 2015;74:54-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2014.10.007
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,1919. Brown W, Liu C, John RM, Ford P. Developing an eBook-integrated high-fidelitymobile App prototype for promoting child motor skills and taxonomically assessing children’s emotional responses using face and sound topology. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2014;2014:333-42. The instrument addressed questions related to parents’ knowledge of mobile devices, children’s frequency of use, exposure time, age at first use, child’s favorite activities, manner of use, parents’ opinion of their children’s usage.

In order to get information on the economic level of the families, we used the Brazil Economic Classification Criteria 2015 (Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil - CCEB), from the Brazilian Association of Research Companies (Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa - ABEP). In this instrument, a score is assigned according to property ownership and educational level of the head of the household, and the family’s economic level is graded on an increasing ordinal scale ranging from E to A1.2020. Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa - ABEP [homepage on the internet]. Brazilian Criteria of Economic Classification 2015. São Paulo: ABEP; 2015 [cited 2018 Feb. 15]. Available from: Available from: http://www.abep.org/criterio-brasil
http://www.abep.org/criterio-brasil...

Initially, the municipal education department and the principals of the participating educational institutions were contacted and the project was presented and discussed. Subsequently, in each educational institution, on pre-established days and times, the questionnaire and the informed consent form were sent home in the backpacks of all 576 children that were of an appropriate age to participate in the study.

As the parents’ adherence was low (n=76; 13%), a shift was made in the educational institutions with regard to the children’s arrival and departure times, in order to inform parents about the benefits and repercussions of the research, as well as the voluntary aspects of participation. With this new approach, 178 more parents (44%) were reached, resulting in a sample of 254. Of this total, ten individuals were excluded because they answered the questionnaire incompletely.

The total interactive media time of the children was evaluated and categorized into three groups, namely: group 1 (n=81) - does not use interactive media; group 2 (n=83) - uses interactive media up to 45 minutes/day; and group 3 (n=80) - uses interactive media more than 45 minutes/day.

The data collected in the questionnaire were analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0. Categorical variables were described as absolute, and relative frequencies and continuous variables were described by measures of central tendency and dispersion. The normality of distribution of continuous variables was investigated by the Shapiro-Wilk test. To compare groups G1, G2 and G3 regarding sociodemographic and media characterization variables, the chi-square and Student t tests were used with a significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 244 children with ages ranging from 24 to 47 months participated in the research. The average age was 35.5 ± 5.6 months. Of these, 124 (50.8%) were female and 164 (67.2%) had access to interactive media at home. The average use time of the media was 69.2 minutes, ranging from five to 480 minutes/day, with a median of 45 minutes. The frequency and use time of the media, according to age group, can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

Figure 1
Frequency of interactive media use by age group.

Figure 2
Interactive media usage.

The prevalence of media use among children aged 24 to 35 months was 63.2%; and in children from 36 to 47 months, it was 70%. Smartphones were children’s most commonly used media: 57.3% from 24 to 35 months, and 59.2% from 36 to 47 months, followed by tablets, used by 21.4 and 25% of children, respectively. Children aged 24 to 35 months had a mean use time of 70.8 minutes/day (95%CI 51.2-90.1) and children aged 36 to 47 months had a mean time of 69.5 minutes/day (95%CI 53.1-85.8), which did not differ statistically (p=0.91).

The reasons why parents allowed children to use the media were: to distract their children in public (n=25; 15.3%), to distract them at home (n=83; 50.9%); and to stimulate their development (n=97; 59.5%).

Chrildren’s preferred activity according to age can be seen in Figure 3. The characteristics of the three groups in relation to sociodemographic variables and ways of using media are described in Table 1. The average age of the groups did not differ statistically, as follows: 34.8 ± 5.5 (G1), 35.3 ± 5.9 (G2) and 36.3 ± 5.4 (G3).

Figure 3
Children’s preferred activity when using interactive media, categorized by age group in months.

Table 1
The characterization of groups according to sociodemographic variables and ways of using interactive media.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of interactive media use in children aged two to four years old in the municipality was 67.2%, with smartphones being the most commonly used media, followed by tablets. An epidemiological study with parents and children in the US revealed that among children 0 to 2 years old, 42% used tablets and 37% used smartphones, which was lower than the percentages found in children aged three to five, 56 and 46%, respectively.2121. Read Aloud 15 minutes [homepage on the internet]. Read aloud survey report: How America reads aloud to its children; 2016 [cited 2018 Mar. 05]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.html .
http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.ht...
In infants two years of age and younger in Singapore, the prevalence of mobile device use found was 30.5%. 1111. Goh SN, Teh LH, Tay WR, Anantharaman S, van Dam RM, Tan CS, et al. Sociodemographic, home environment and parental influences on total and device-specific screen viewing in children aged 2 years and below: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e009113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009113
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
Common Sense Media, in 2013,2222. Commom Sense Media [homepage on the internet]. Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America; 2011 [cited 2018 Set. 21]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america-2013 .
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/researc...
pointed to a growth in media use by children in the United States aged 8 and under, with a prevalence of 52% in 2011, and 75 % in 2013. It is possible to observe a high rate of early childhood interactive media use, and its increase over the years. Although the Brazilian children investigated reside in a place with different sociodemographic characteristics from the aforementioned places, they have a similar media use, showing that this is a worldwide phenomenon, like television, which is little affected by geographical barriers. 1111. Goh SN, Teh LH, Tay WR, Anantharaman S, van Dam RM, Tan CS, et al. Sociodemographic, home environment and parental influences on total and device-specific screen viewing in children aged 2 years and below: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e009113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009113
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,1212. Assathiany R, Guery E, Caron FM, Cheymol J, Picherot G, Foucaud P, et al. Children and screens: a survey by French pediatricians. Arch Pediatr. 2018;25:84-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2017.11.001
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2017.11...
,2121. Read Aloud 15 minutes [homepage on the internet]. Read aloud survey report: How America reads aloud to its children; 2016 [cited 2018 Mar. 05]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.html .
http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.ht...

In the present study, a statistically significant difference was observed between the groups regarding socioeconomic variables. It was measured by the ABEP classification and maternal education, with an association between lower income and educational level and not using media (Table 1). Thus, 51.2% of children from the lowest income levels (C2, D and E) used media, which is a lower proportion than that of children from income levels A, B and C1 (85.7%). The literature indicates that lower socioeconomic levels are related to higher media use.11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,77. Wu CS, Fowler C, Lam WY, Wong HT, Wong CH, Yuen Loke A. Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-40-44
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
Common Sense Media, in 2013,2222. Commom Sense Media [homepage on the internet]. Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America; 2011 [cited 2018 Set. 21]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america-2013 .
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/researc...
showed that media use increased in children with low socioeconomic status, which increased by 22% in 2011 to 65% in 2013, a value similar to that found in the Brazilian children of this study. Regardless of the family’s economic condition, there has been a growing use of tablets and smartphones in children from the United States. However, there is still a difference between socioeconomic levels, and while 65% of the most affluent children have smartphones at home, only 20% of disadvantaged children have this kind of device.2222. Commom Sense Media [homepage on the internet]. Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America; 2011 [cited 2018 Set. 21]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america-2013 .
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/researc...

Media usage did not vary by age (Table 1). The literature is controversial about this topic. There are studies where age factor is related to media use.77. Wu CS, Fowler C, Lam WY, Wong HT, Wong CH, Yuen Loke A. Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-40-44
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
Also, there are contradictory studies that show the lack of influence of age on the frequency of media use in childhood.33. Ahearne C, Dilworth S, Rollings R, Livingstone V, Murray D. Touch-screen technology usage in toddlers. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:181-3. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-309278
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
However, the way media is used is influenced by age, and more elaborate activities are observed in older children.1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
Interactive media usage time is very variable, with values from 15 minutes/day to two ­­hours/­day.11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,33. Ahearne C, Dilworth S, Rollings R, Livingstone V, Murray D. Touch-screen technology usage in toddlers. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:181-3. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-309278
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
,2121. Read Aloud 15 minutes [homepage on the internet]. Read aloud survey report: How America reads aloud to its children; 2016 [cited 2018 Mar. 05]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.html .
http://www.readaloud.org/surveyreport.ht...
,2222. Commom Sense Media [homepage on the internet]. Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America; 2011 [cited 2018 Set. 21]. Avaliable from: Avaliable from: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/zero-to-eight-childrens-media-use-in-america-2013 .
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/researc...
,2323. McClure ER, Chentsova-Dutton YR, Barr RF, Holochwost SJ, Parrott WG. ‘‘Facetime doesn’t count’’: Video chat as an exception to media restrictions for infants and toddlers. Int J Child-Comput. 2015;6:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2016.02.002
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,2424. Karaagac AT. Undesirable effects of media on children: why limitation is necessary? Indian Pediatr. 2015;52:469-71.,2525. Schoeppe S, Rebar AL, Short CE, Alley S, Lippevelde WV, Vandelanotte C. How is adults’ screen time behaviour influencing their views on screen time restrictions for children? A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:201. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2789-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria - SBP) in 2016,1414. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) [homepage on the Internet]. Departamento Adolescência. Manual de Orientação. Saúde da criança e adolescentes na era digital. Rio de Janeiro: SBP; 2016 [cited 2018 Jan. 05]. Available from: Available from: http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upload/2016/11/19166d-MOrient-Saude-Crian-e-Adolesc.pdf
http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upl...
recommended that media use time be proportional to the age of the child and their neuropsychic skills. Moreover, children from two to five years old should not spend more than an ­hour/­day in front of a screen. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), also in 2016, 88. AAP Council On Communications and Media. Media and young minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138:e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1542/...
discouraged children under 18 months to use media, except for video calls. Parents of infants 18 to 24 months old, who wish to introduce the technology, are recommended to use it in conjunction with high quality activities. For children older than two years old, limits are recommended regarding the use of interactive media for one hour/day or less. It was observed that 44% of the children investigated in this study exceeded the time recommended by the SBP and AAP (Figures 1 and 2) and 19% of children spend more than two hours/day in front of screens, which is worrying, considering that the benefits and harms of media are not yet well understood in the literature. 88. AAP Council On Communications and Media. Media and young minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138:e20162591. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1542/...
,1414. Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria (SBP) [homepage on the Internet]. Departamento Adolescência. Manual de Orientação. Saúde da criança e adolescentes na era digital. Rio de Janeiro: SBP; 2016 [cited 2018 Jan. 05]. Available from: Available from: http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upload/2016/11/19166d-MOrient-Saude-Crian-e-Adolesc.pdf
http://www.sbp.com.br/fileadmin/user_upl...
,1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
,2323. McClure ER, Chentsova-Dutton YR, Barr RF, Holochwost SJ, Parrott WG. ‘‘Facetime doesn’t count’’: Video chat as an exception to media restrictions for infants and toddlers. Int J Child-Comput. 2015;6:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2016.02.002
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...

The activities performed by children using media were: watching videos (55%), listening to music (33%), playing games (28%), watching stories (28%), using educational applications (21%) and others, like looking at photos and making video calls (4%). According to age (Figure 3), “watching videos” was the most frequent favorite activity in all age groups except for children 24-26 months who prefer listening to music. After 26 months of age, activities such as playing games and watching stories were observed. These findings corroborate research findings in French children aged five to 40 months, in which infant preferences were viewing photos (78%) and videos (68%), listening to music (5%) and games (4%), activities influenced by the age of the infant.1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
Activities where the child only views content (videos, photos, stories) on handheld devices do not favor the child’s interaction with such devices, because it makes the use of interactive media similar to television.33. Ahearne C, Dilworth S, Rollings R, Livingstone V, Murray D. Touch-screen technology usage in toddlers. Arch Dis Child. 2016;101:181-3. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2015-309278
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...

When asked how their child uses interactive media, the majority of parents (75.2%) reported accompanying their children during use. This is similar to data found in families with American children of the same age - 76% of children use media accompanied by their mothers -2323. McClure ER, Chentsova-Dutton YR, Barr RF, Holochwost SJ, Parrott WG. ‘‘Facetime doesn’t count’’: Video chat as an exception to media restrictions for infants and toddlers. Int J Child-Comput. 2015;6:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2016.02.002
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
and in Chinese families - 64.4% of parents spent at least 1 hour a day with their children while using the media.77. Wu CS, Fowler C, Lam WY, Wong HT, Wong CH, Yuen Loke A. Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-40-44
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
The presence of parents is a factor emphasized in the literature in that they enhance the benefits of media, develop motor, cognitive and language skills, and improve parent-child interaction.22. Radesky JS, Christakis DA. Increased Screen Time: implications for early childhood development and behavior. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016;63:827-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,77. Wu CS, Fowler C, Lam WY, Wong HT, Wong CH, Yuen Loke A. Parenting approaches and digital technology use of preschool age children in a Chinese community. Ital J Pediatr. 2014;40:44. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-40-44
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
What is important is how one uses media and not the technology in and of itself.22. Radesky JS, Christakis DA. Increased Screen Time: implications for early childhood development and behavior. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2016;63:827-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2016.06.006
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...

In the present study, 86.4% of parents reported limiting their children’s use of interactive media. This is essential, considering that the preschool phase is a critical period for child development. It is a phase in which children establish lifelong health habits. In this phase, there is greater parental control over the health behavior of their children.2626. Hamilton K, Spinks T, White KM, Kavanagh DJ, Walsh AM. A psychosocial analysis of parents’ decisions for limiting their young child’s screen time: An examination of attitudes, social norms and roles, and control perceptions. Br J Health Psychol. 2016;21:285-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12168
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/...
Because the beneficial effects of media use are not well established in the literature, there is a need to infer parents’ opinion on the subject in order to set standards. In the study by Hamilton et al.,2626. Hamilton K, Spinks T, White KM, Kavanagh DJ, Walsh AM. A psychosocial analysis of parents’ decisions for limiting their young child’s screen time: An examination of attitudes, social norms and roles, and control perceptions. Br J Health Psychol. 2016;21:285-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12168
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/...
a few factors were identified that led parents to limit media usage time to less than one hour/day. Among them, parents’ need to establish their role as a parent is emphasized. In addition, the study shows that the opinions of spouses, partners and friends also influence the limitation of media use. The literature reveals that restriction of screen time to less than two hours/day is mainly performed by women and parents who spend less time in front of a screen.2525. Schoeppe S, Rebar AL, Short CE, Alley S, Lippevelde WV, Vandelanotte C. How is adults’ screen time behaviour influencing their views on screen time restrictions for children? A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:201. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2789-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
It is clear, therefore, that the investigated parents adopt desirable practices regarding media use. Possible justification lies in the fact that the majority (67.7%) consider the developmental effects of their children to be beneficial.

Smartphones and tablets were used most by the children of this study, and a statistically significant difference was observed between groups G2 and G3 in relation to tablets (Table 1). Studies such as that of Prince et al.2727. Price S, Jewitt C, Crescenzi L. The role of iPads in pre-school children’s mark making development. Comp Educ. 2015;87:131-41. 10.1016/j.compedu.2015.04.003
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2015.0...
show that the use of tablets can enhance fine motor skills in children aged two to three years old. The French Academy of Sciences, in 2013,1313. Bach JF, Houdé O, Léna P, Tisseron S. L’enfant et les écrans. Un avis de l’Académie des sciences. Paris: Éditions Le Pommier et Institut de France - Académie des sciences. Prix International Roberval; 2013. pointed out that the visual and tactile functions of tablets can be useful for the sensory and motor development of children, increasing their learning. However, they may pose risks in that they keep children from doing physical, social and emotional activities related to their age. Lin et al.,2828. Lin LY, Cherng RJ, Chen YJ. Effect of touch screen tablet use on fine motor development of young children. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2017;37:457-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2016.1255290
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/...
report that activities using tablets can lead to improper physiological changes in the wrist and finger joints. The literature is still in controversy regarding the effects of these media on child development and, therefore, longitudinal studies are needed to monitor the use of media and their effects in a controlled manner.

The present study reveals groundbreaking data on the use of interactive media in early childhood, which is relevant in contemporary times, as the use of interactive media is behind only TV, surpassing media such as computer and video games11. Bernard JY, Padmapriya N, Chen B, Cai S, Tan KH, Yap F, et al. Predictors of screen viewing time in young Singaporean children: the GUSTO cohort. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14:112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0562-3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...
,1111. Goh SN, Teh LH, Tay WR, Anantharaman S, van Dam RM, Tan CS, et al. Sociodemographic, home environment and parental influences on total and device-specific screen viewing in children aged 2 years and below: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e009113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009113
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
. Easy access to interactive media, coupled with the ease of transport and use of these devices, has favored the spread of this type of technology in all age groups, especially in early childhood.

One of the limitations of this study is the possible memory bias, since data collection was performed with a questionnaire answered by parents. However, this way to measure media time is the most widely used in the literature, whether it be in person1111. Goh SN, Teh LH, Tay WR, Anantharaman S, van Dam RM, Tan CS, et al. Sociodemographic, home environment and parental influences on total and device-specific screen viewing in children aged 2 years and below: an observational study. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e009113. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009113
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
,2626. Hamilton K, Spinks T, White KM, Kavanagh DJ, Walsh AM. A psychosocial analysis of parents’ decisions for limiting their young child’s screen time: An examination of attitudes, social norms and roles, and control perceptions. Br J Health Psychol. 2016;21:285-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12168
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/...
or virtually.1515. Cristia A, Seidl A. Parental reports on touch screen use in early childhood. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0128338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128338
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1371/...
,2323. McClure ER, Chentsova-Dutton YR, Barr RF, Holochwost SJ, Parrott WG. ‘‘Facetime doesn’t count’’: Video chat as an exception to media restrictions for infants and toddlers. Int J Child-Comput. 2015;6:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2016.02.002
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,2626. Hamilton K, Spinks T, White KM, Kavanagh DJ, Walsh AM. A psychosocial analysis of parents’ decisions for limiting their young child’s screen time: An examination of attitudes, social norms and roles, and control perceptions. Br J Health Psychol. 2016;21:285-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12168
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/...
Another limitation to be considered is that sample selection was based on parents’ willingness to answer the questionnaire, which may disrupt the probabilistic sampling process, as those parents who responded could be more connected to the topic at hand. Nevertheless, the sample included 42.4% of the target population, which shows an average adherence to the project.

This study confirms the hypothesis that young children are already attracted to interactive media. Strategies are needed in order to reflect on the rapid growth of regular interactive device practices in the early years of childhood until their future impacts on child health and development are known

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    » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2016.1255290

Funding

  • Support granted by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), Brazil, with a scientific initiation scholarship.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    25 Nov 2019
  • Date of issue
    2020

History

  • Received
    01 June 2018
  • Accepted
    26 Sept 2018
  • Published
    08 Nov 2019
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