Abstract:

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the features of digital technology use and mothers’ approaches in children aged 0-6. Method: The sample of the analytical cross-sectional study consisted of 203 mothers with children aged 0-6, who applied to the pediatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Sivas city center. The data were collected by Descriptive Characteristics Form, the A Scale for Measuring Parental Attitudes towards Digital Game Playing and Application Use Habits in the Preschool Period. Results: The mean age of the mothers’ was 32.07±4.96, 51.2% are university graduates, 51.2%of children are male and 25.6% are between 36-47months.It was determined that 84.7%of the children spend time on the smartphone and 74.4% of them watch videos on digital technological devices. 65%of children experience irritability, distraction and eye problems due to using digital technological devices for a long time. The scale mean score of the mothers was 18.32±6.48. It was determined that the mean score point of the mothers of children who use digital technological devices everyday and have problems related to the use of digital technological devices is significantly high. Conclusion: It was determined that children use smartphones the most, and more than half of them have health problems related to using digital technological devices. It is observed that the children of mothers who have a positive attitude towards the use of digital technology use digital devices every day and experience related problems. It can be recommended to inform parents about the effects of digital technological devices in early childhood and to use these devices under parental control.

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