The Use of Digital Technology by Parents from the Perspective of Children

This study is a qualitative research project aimed at examining preschool children's perceptions and views of their parents' use of digital technology. The study employs a phenomenological design, allowing an in-depth understanding of how individuals perceive a specific phenomenon. The research participants comprised a total of 27 children, 15 of whom were girls and 12 boys. The ages of the children in the study group ranged from 48 to 72 months. Specifically, nine children aged 48-60 months and 18 children aged 61-72 months were included in the study. A snowball sampling method was used to recruit participants. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview consisting of questions about parents' use of digital technology. To ensure content validity, the interview form was reviewed by two experts in early childhood education, and necessary revisions were made based on their suggestions. A language expert also reviewed the form and finalized it after a pilot study involving three children. The interviews were conducted face-to-face; verbal consent was obtained from the children, and written consent was obtained from their parents before the interviews. During the interviews, audio recordings were taken to document the data, which were later transcribed into written texts for analysis. The collected data were analysed using the content analysis method. The study's findings indicate that parents' use of digital technology can influence children's perceptions, emotions, and behaviours. Children often perceived their parents' prolonged engagement with digital technology as neglect, which evoked emotional responses such as loneliness, jealousy, and anger. Furthermore, excessive parental use of digital technology was found to reduce family interactions, lower the quality of face-to-face communication, and desensitize parents to their children's behavioural cues. The findings also revealed how parental digital behaviours shape children's media habits. Some children imitate their parents' behaviours, which supports the social learning theory. The study highlights the negative effects of parents' use of digital technology on children's social, emotional, and cognitive development. Children frequently expressed feelings of loneliness, neglect, and insecurity as their parents spent more time on digital devices. Additionally, children observed that their parents' focus on devices during family interactions led to communication breakdowns. For example, parental engagement with digital technology during mealtimes, playtime, or bedtime was identified as a factor that increased children's attempts to gain attention. In addition to the negative effects, some children mentioned the positive outcomes of using digital technology with their parents for educational purposes. They noted that spending time with parents on educational apps or creative activities on digital devices was enjoyable. However, for such positive effects to emerge, it is critical for parents to manage their use of digital technology consciously. Setting boundaries on digital technology use and spending quality time with children is essential for supporting their social and emotional development. In this context, avoiding using digital devices during family moments such as mealtimes, bedtime, and playtime can effectively meet children's emotional needs. Furthermore, educational programs should be organized to raise parents' awareness of the effects of digital technology use on children. These programs should guide parents to be role models for their children, control screen time, and consciously use devices. In conclusion, this study sheds light on parents' digital technology usage habits from children's perspective. It demonstrates that these habits can significantly affect children's social, emotional, and cognitive development. The findings underscore the importance of parents consciously managing their relationship with digital technology to support their children's healthy development and strengthen family bonds.