Exploring 5-Year-Olds’ Play Experiences with Tablet PCs

This study explored young children’s play experiences with tablet PCs-the devices most commonly used both in institutions and at home-to understand the meaning of digital play in modern society and to identify effective approaches to digital education appropriate for their developmental level. For this study, a total of 12 kindergartens and daycare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province that provide tablet PCs as play material were conveniently sampled. Young children’s picture data and interview data were collected from a young children’s perspective. Data on the most memorable play experiences using a tablet PC from a total of 74 young children were collected and analyzed using the constant comparative method. The results of the study revealed that meaningful play experiences using a tablet PC for young children could be categorized into problem-solving play, creative play, and simple functional play. Accordingly, this study discussed the purpose of digital education for young children, along with the appropriate digital technologies and instructional methods. These findings are expected to provide implications for exploring the appropriate direction of digital education for young children.