Examining Parental Views and Habits Regarding Technology Use in Preschool Children: A Quantitative Analysis

Aim: This study examines parents' views and habits regarding technology usage during the preschool period.Material and Methods: The research, conducted with 326 parents, utilized the "Information and Communication Technologies Usage Characteristics Questionnaire" and the "Parental Views on Technology Usage in Preschool-Aged Children Survey" to assess parents' evaluations of their children's technology usage. Results: Most participants were female (84.0%), with an average age of 37.11. Regarding educational attainment, 42% had completed associate degrees or higher. Smartphones (98.8%) and internet access (93.6%) were prevalent among technological devices in households.Regarding assessments of children's technology use, 99.1% of children were users of information and communication technologies, with the majority preferring smartphones (78.5%). Children often use these devices while eating or when their parents are occupied with household chores. A large majority of parents (71.6%) expressed that their children easily adhere to restrictions on technology usage. When examining scores from the scale, the average of parents' overall views on technology use among preschool-aged children was 80.911 ± 8.431. Conclusions: These findings indicate that while technology is widely used among preschool-aged children, parents generally have positive perceptions of it and manage its use effectively. However, continued guidance is essential to ensure that technology promotes healthy child development.Implication for nursing management: Nurses should provide parents with evidence-based education on appropriate technology use and healthy screen habits during the preschool period. Integrating counseling on technology use into routine child health services may promote healthy child development and support parents in managing their children's technology use effectively.