How Parents Guide the Digital Media Usage of Kindergarten Children in Early Childhood

In our modern society young children are getting in contact with digital media already in the early stages of childhood. Uncontrolled consumption of screen media and the media’s content may have a variety of negative effects (e.g. social isolation) on the child’s development. Parental mediation, the controlled, limited and supervised use of media plays an important role and may encourage positive effects of using media. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provided a list with some recommendations and tips about media and young children. Also, it is discussed that digital media literacy teaching should already start in Kindergarten. What are parents doing to mediate the media usage of their children? Are they setting limits? Do they act like a role model? And, what do parents think about digital media literacy instruction in Kindergarten? This study’s researchers asked parents of 3 to 6-year-old Kindergarten children from Germany through a questionnaire as well as interviews about the mediation of their child’s media contact. Likewise, parents were asked if digital media literacy should start in Kindergarten. A content analysis based on the tips from AAP was conducted as well. The results show that parents indeed try to limit the contact with media and are watching the usage. Kindergarten should be a tech-free zone according to nearly all parents.