Parental screen time

As the proliferation of personal devices and tablets has increased, the amount of time

an individual spends using a device with a digital screen is relevant not only for the

study child, but also their parents. As the child develops, they absorb habits and

behaviours from those around them and so it is advantageous to ask the parents

about the amount of time they spend using digital devices (e.g. Hoyos Cillero & Jago,

2010). With the study child being more observant and susceptible to absorb parental

behaviours at age 3 as compared to 9 months, it is once again important to collect

this information.

The main sub-topic/measure that could be continued from Cohort 24 at age 9

months are items that ask about parental screen time on an average day. This

measure is split up into a question on screen time on an average weekday and on an

average weekend. As screen time has become an increasingly salient discussion point

and topic for research, it is desirable to collect this information from at least the

child’s primary caregiver to complete both within- and cross-cohort analysis to study

the impact on the child’s development.

Recommendations for Cohort 24 at age 3:

•Repeat individual item on parental screen time from Cohort 24 at age 9 months.

Parenting support