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Use of digital devices from the perspective of Croatian children aged 4-6 years
  • Iva Đureković,
  • Sanja Šimleša,
  • Maja Cepanec
Iva Đureković
University of Zagreb
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Sanja Šimleša
University of Zagreb
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Maja Cepanec
University of Zagreb

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

An increasing number of studies examine the use of digital devices (DDs) by children. However, most of these studies include parents as subjects, while the children’s perspective has been much less studied. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of DDs from the perspective of Croatian children aged 4 to 6 years (N=84) using a semistructured interview. The results show that there is no child who does not use at least one DD. Children systematically report varying levels of parental control over usage. On the other hand, they still favor other forms of entertainment over the use of DDs – playing with toys, playing with other children in the park etc. As children tend to use DDs alone and do not exploit the social aspects of digital media, the need for a live interactive environment appears to strongly influence preschoolers’ activity choices.