THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL STORYTELLING ON CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

This study investigates early childhood teachers' assessments of the impact of Digital Storytelling (DST) on improving children's language development. The research sample consisted mainly of mid-career teachers with significant teaching experience and advanced academic qualifications, providing educated and reliable opinions. The demographic diversity, encompassing equitable gender representation and expertise in both general and special education, enhanced the study's viewpoints. Research indicated that educators firmly assert that DST improves essential components of language development—expressive vocabulary, narrative abilities, listening comprehension, and oral fluency, by promoting confident communication, inventiveness, and a deeper comprehension among young learners. Substantial differences in teacher perceptions, influenced by demographic and professional characteristics, highlighted the necessity for customized training methods. A comprehensive professional development initiative named “Empowering Early Childhood Educators through Digital Storytelling (DST)” was proposed, encompassing needs assessment, orientation, modular workshops, practical digital toolkits, mentoring, and evaluation mechanisms, all underpinned by a structured budget. The program seeks to suit various educator profiles and guarantee the appropriate integration of DST tactics in the classroom. The conclusions confirm the effectiveness of DST as an engaging and developmentally suitable educational instrument, emphasizing the necessity for inclusive training programs to meet the diverse requirements of educators. The study advocates for the systematic incorporation of DST into early childhood curricula, professional development facilitated by seasoned trainers, and ongoing initiatives for gender inclusiveness in pedagogical practices. Customizing professional development programs to align with teachers' backgrounds will significantly improve the effective execution of DST, hence fostering enhanced language learning experiences for children in early educational environments. Keywords: Digital Storytelling (DST), Early Childhood Education, Expressive Vocabulary, Language Comprehension, Listening Comprehension, Oral Language Fluency, Narrative Skills, Screen Time