‘Switch that off!’: The influence of digital parenting and mediation practices on young children’s engagement with digital technologies in the home

Abstract

The digital environment within the family home frames children’s exposure to digital technologies and arguably their development of early digital literacies. Importantly, understanding parent strategies to manage children’s technology use, facilitate active engagement, and protect them from inappropriate online interactions are key to understanding family digital cultures. This paper reports on research that used a multiple case study approach in which families attending four Western Australian early years education and care centres were invited to participate. Three families, including parents and their children (aged 3–4 years) from each centre, participated in semi-structured interviews. Each represented a range of socioeconomic status, gender, family composition and ethnicity. Interview questions evoked rich discussions and included an exploration of the opportunities and potential risks related to children’s engagement with digital technologies. The findings suggested that digital parenting strategies and mediation practices strongly influence the nature of children’s digital engagement within their home environment.