engleski

The exposure of preschool children to technology and its relationship to children’s play

Introduction: Sensory input represents "food" for the nervous system. Among all sensory systems, the tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive systems are the most fundamental for the development of the various skills crucial for the optimal performance of daily occupations. As new technology becomes increasingly available to children of preschool age, the question arises how this affects the development of these basic sensory systems through various forms of play. This study, conducted in Slovenia and Croatia, aims to answer the question: What is the relationship between the frequency of technology use and participation in sensory-rich play based activities among preschool children? Methods: This pilot study adopted a quantitative approach in which data was collected cross-sectionally through the dissemination of an online questionnaire. This questionnaire was designed for the purpose of this research using the open source application for online surveys 1KA. Study participants were recruited via a ‘snowball’ method using simple random sampling. To participate in the survey, parents of preschool children aged between 2 and 6 years were invited by e-mail or via the Facebook social network. The research took place during the period from October 10th, 2017 to November 11th, 2017. The data collected was quantitatively analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Using descriptive statistics, the findings indicate that preschool aged children spend far greater amounts of time using various types of technology than what is currently recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics and what is deemed a reasonable limit by their parents. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that children who spend more time using media are significantly less involved in sensory-rich play activities than children who spend less time using technological devices. Discussion: Presently, research regarding technology use and play among preschool children is insufficient and inconclusive (DeShetler, 2014). As occupational therapists, we recognize that active participation in the everyday occupation of play is an important contributor to children’s health and development. By shedding further light on the relationship between technology use and play, we hope that the present study will support further work in promoting play. Based on the findings of our research, we also plan to develop guidelines for parents of preschool children, if necessary, regarding the importance of taking into account sensory needs in their children’s development.

preschool children ; sensory needs ; play ; occupational therapy ; modern technology

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