Digital childhood: Electronic media and technology use among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers

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Author:

Vandewater, Elizabeth A.; Rideout, Victoria J.; Wartella, Ellen A.; Huang, Xuan; Lee, June H.; Shim, Mi-suk

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Year:

2007

Article Title:

Digital childhood: Electronic media and technology use among infants, toddlers, and preschoolers

Journal:

Pediatrics

Volume:

119

Edition:

Issue:

119

Pages:

e1006-1015

ISBN/ISSN:

1098-4275

Source of Funding:

Kaiser Family Foundation; National Science Foundation grant BCS-0126127; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant 5 R24 HD042849; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant 1 R01-HD40851-01

Study Design:

Correlational Study

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Age Group:

Childhood (birth-12 yrs), Infancy (2-23 Months), Preschool Age (2-5 yrs)

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Abstract:

Objective: To describe media access and use among American children ages 0 to 6 in relationship to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) media-use guidelines.

Design: Descriptive analyses, logistic regression, and multivariate analyses of covariance of survey data were used.

Subjects and Setting: A representative sample of parents (n=1045) of children ages 0�2 (n = 412), ages 3�4 (n = 304), and ages 5�6 (n = 329) from a 2005 survey were used. Selected by random-digit telephone dialing and completed a telephone survey. 81% were mothers. 60% non-Hispanic white, 14% black, 20% Hispanic/Latino. 76% were in 2-parent family homes.

Intervention(s): N/A

Outcome Measure(s): Household media ownership and access, media and technology use, demographic information, family media access and orientation, time spent reading and playing outdoors.

Results: On average, 75% of children watched television and 32% watched videos and DVDs, for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes every day. New media use was also high. An average of 27% of 5 to 6 year-olds used a computer for 50 minutes every day. One fifth of those under 2 years of age and more than one third of 3 to 6 year-olds listed having a TV in their bedroom (54% stated that this frees other TVs in the house for other needs). The majority of children aged 3 to 6 met AAP guidelines, but 70% of 0 to 2 year olds did not.

Conclusions: The current study is the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive look at the media use of America�s youngest users. The media-saturated environment of infants and preschoolers signals an apparent need for additional research on the potential impact of these findings in regards to public health. � Center on Media and Child Health

Keywords:

Books
Child Development
Children
Infants and Toddlers
Media Diet
Motion Pictures
North Americans
Television
Video Games
Videotapes