Attentional attributes of early child media usage

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PROJECT SUMMARY Increasingly, early childhood includes electronic media. It is not just the age at which children begin to view regularly that is concerning, but the content of the media and the context of the use. Recently, newer mobile and interactive media platforms (e.g., tablets) have changed the way media is consumed. Current viewing metrics suggest that tablet media is beginning to replace traditional TV viewing, but that passive content (“watching videos”) remains the primary component of early childhood media use. Tablets allow several important differences in use. First, apps for tablets allow both passive viewing as well as interactive game playing, providing a more diverse set of content choices. Second, the personalized use of these smaller devices allows the content to be delivered directly to the child, and adults are less likely to co-view during tablet use. On-demand access also allows programs to be controlled, changing patterns of consumption and use has extended out of the home into more environments (e.g., cars and restaurants). Observational studies of TV use have linked excessive early media use with attention problems, language delay, and cognitive detriments. It is unclear if the interactive nature of tables and apps might approximate more traditional exchanges or even promote interactions. Given the changing media landscape, a better understanding of how tablet-based media influences early learning is important for supporting better child outcomes, and potentially identifying those with early risk. To address these issues, we will investigate: (1) the immediate impact of different tablet media content on infant joint attention behaviors, engagement, and cardiophysiological responses related to regulation and attention. As well, we will explore parents’ ability to predict their child’s difficulty disengaging from touchscreen technologies. In this proposed diversity supplement, I will contribute to investigating the impact of different tablet media content in early childhood by assisting with all aspects of the research protocol, including participant recruitment, parent and toddler interactions and assessment, heart rate data collection, and analyses related to the aims of the project. I hypothesize that tablet use among children aged 18-24 months will be associated with a reduced response to joint attention bids during the app program and children will fail to comply with requests to relinquish the tablet when playing an app as compared to passive viewing on the tablet or play with a real toy.