USO DE TELAS NA PRIMEIRA INFÂNCIA: UMA AÇÃO EXTENSIONISTA PARA O FORTALECIMENTO DO PAPEL DE CUIDADORES FAMILIARES NA MEDIAÇÃO E REGULAÇÃO DO USO DIGITAL

This article reports on an outreach project focused on developing psychoeducational and reflective groups with parents and caregivers about the impacts of screen use in early childhood. The activities took place in five Municipal Early Childhood Education Centers (CMEIs) in a municipality in the interior of Paraná, involving 72 participants. The weekly meetings, held in three sessions, used dynamics, shared reading, content analysis, and the co-viewing technique. The analysis of the field diaries showed that many participants were unaware of the harms of early screen use, especially for language and emotional regulation. The spaces for dialogue fostered greater awareness of the impacts of digital technologies, promoting changes in educational practices and in the mediation of screen use. A change in the participants' perception of the harms of excessive screen use was also observed. The experience reaffirmed the potential of university outreach in guiding families, in critical academic training, and in strengthening the social commitment of Psychology.