Use of handheld screens and language development - parents' perception and the construction of a guidance booklet

Abstract

Purpose: to describe the perception of parents about the use of handheld screens by children and to prepare a booklet for the healthy use of these devices. Methods: 102 parents of children aged between 18 and 71 months answered a questionnaire on the use of screen. The analysis was a descriptive and non-parametric one. After assessing parents’ responses and reviewing the literature, the booklet was prepared. The material was made available to three judges for analysis and suggestions. Results: the use of portable screens by children was confirmed by most respondents, and some children spend two hours or more in front of them. Parents believe that screens are a source of stimuli for learning how to speak, but they are concerned about the reproduction of some characters’ inappropriate behavior and consumerism. The judges answered the questionnaire assigning maximum scores to most questions. The text of the booklet gathered information about how children learn to speak, clarified about time and content of screen use, and presented language stimulation strategies. Conclusion: parents' responses to the questionnaire, together with a review of studies on the subject and the judges' analyses, provided elements for the preparation of a booklet on the proper use of these devices.