The Influence of Interactive Media on Child Development in Early Childhood

Summary

Introduction: In the last decade the prevalence of the use of interactive media (smartphone, tablet) by children has grown worldwide. However, it is not yet known what its effects are on the development of children in early childhood and whether the form of use (passive or active) influences this practice. In view of this, the present study aims to assess, through a randomized clinical trial (RCT), whether the form of use of mobile interactive media interferes with the Methods: The investigators propose an RCT with 64 children aged 24 to 36 months and their parents. Initially, identification, information about the child and history of media use will be carried out through the Questionnaire on the Use of Interactive Media, economic classification (Brazil Economic Classification Criterion). Then, the quality of the school environment (Infant / Toddler Environment Rating Scale) will be observed and, finally, measures of cognitive, motor and language development through the Bayley III Scale and Auditory Vocabulary Test. For follow-up purposes, parents will be asked to complete the Daily Record Board. Children will be randomly randomized into two groups: Active Interactive Media Group: children will use the media actively (games) and Passive Interactive Media Group: children will use the media passively (content viewing). Both groups will participate in the intervention for 30 minutes, three times a week, for 16 weeks. After this period, children will be reassessed for cognitive, language and fine motor development, receptive vocabulary and analysis of the Daily Record Board.

Discussion: The results can provide (1) information on which form of use has the most benefits for children (2) guide parents, educators and health professionals on how to offer interactive media.

Trial registration: This clinical trial was submitted to and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (CAAE 29490420.9.0000.5108). The complete protocol was registered in the Clinical Trials REBEC ( https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br) under number RBR-8j3tzw Keywords: Child Development, Tablet, Interactive Tutorial, Clinical Trial.

Conditions

• Child Development

Interventions

OTHER

Children will perform activities on interactive tablet

AIMG will actively perform activities with user interaction with the equipment through touch or verbal response. Both groups will have a total of 48 intervention sessions.

OTHER

Children will perform passive on interactive tablet

The PIMG is just a spectator, having contact with the equipment only when switching on / off, "play" / pause ". Both groups will have a total of 48 intervention sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais

  collaborator OTHER

• Federal University of the Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Juliana D Nunes Santos, PHD · Federal University of the Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

24 Months

Max Age

42 Months

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-08-21

Primary Completion

2024-07-21

Completion

2025-06-21

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations