Electronic Media and Early Childhood: A Review

Abstract

Background This review summarizes the state of knowledge of use of new media on the development in early childhood in 6 sections: descriptive utilization data, psychosocial and emotional development, cognition and language, motor development, nutrition and sleep, and influence of parental media consumption.

Methods The review is based on a literature search of this topic in peer-reviewed journals. We included 87 articles, books, and book chapters. The used literature data bases were ERIC, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO and PSYNDEX.

Results Manifold studies describe in young children’s utilization data the pervasive nature of digital exposure and impressive usage times and availability. They confirm adverse influences of electronic media use (television, video games) on children’s emotional and behavioral problems and well-being, e. g. on physical activity, sleep and obesity. In general a positive effect in sense of knowledge transfer of age could be found for high quality educational media, however predominantly the impact of media use at younger age was negative.

Conclusions High frequent media use in early childhood is likely to have a negative impact on psychosocial development, positive effects such as knowledge transfer may be seen beyond the age of 18 months. As parental media use is a strong predictor of child media habits, reducing parental media use and enhancing parent–child interactions might be important areas to address when trying to change the media behavior of young children. In view of the scarcity of studies for early childhood, it is advisable to use digital play and communication devices cautiously and restrictively in this vulnerable development phase.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Dieses Review fasst den aktuellen Wissensstand zum Gebrauch neuer Medien in der frühen Kindheit für 6 Bereiche zusammen: Deskriptive Gebrauchsdaten, psychosoziale und emotionale Entwicklung, Kognition und Sprache, motorische Entwicklung, Ernährung und Schlaf, Einfluss des elterlichen Medienkonsums.

Methode Das Review basiert auf einer Literaturrecherche in peer reviewed Zeitschriften. Insgesamt wurden 87 Artikel, Bücher und Buchkapitel eingeschlossen. Durchsucht wurden die Literaturdatenbänke ERIC, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO und PSYNDEX.

Ergebnisse Die Studien dokumentieren die Allgegenwärtigkeit der Mediennutzung im frühen Lebensalter und weisen eindrucksvolle Nutzungszeiten und Verfügbarkeiten auf. Sie bestätigen ungünstige Einflüsse der elektronischen Medien (Fernseher, Videospiele) auf emotionale und Verhaltensprobleme und auf das Wohlergehen der Kinder, wie z. B. körperliche Aktivität, Schlaf und Übergewicht. Es konnten auch positive Einflüsse von pädagogisch hochwertigen Medien identifiziert werden. Jedoch überwiegen die negativen Effekte der Mediennutzung im jungen Alter deutlich.

Schlussfolgerung Ein hoher Medienkonsum in der frühen Kindheit hat negative Auswirkungen auf die psychosoziale Entwicklung, wohingegen positive Effekte wie bspw. Wissenstransfer erst ab einem Alter von 18 Monaten beobachtet werden können. Eine reduzierte Nutzung seitens der Eltern und eine verbesserte Eltern-Kind Interaktion sind wichtige Bereiche für eine Veränderung der kindlichen Mediennutzung. Wegen des Mangels an Studien ist es ratsam digitale Spiel- und Kommunikationsgeräte nur mit Vorsicht zu nutzen.

Key words

electronic media - digital - infant - toddler - development - parental media use

Schlüsselwörter

elektronische Medien - digital - Säugling - Kleinkind - Entwicklung - elterliche Mediennutzung

Publication History

Article published online:
04 March 2021

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