Parent's and Young Children's Communication During Computer Use: Beyond Meditation

Abstract

A sample of 24 children (median age = 6) and their parents were observed while playing computer games. Verbal interaction was recorded and analyzed to determine the nature of parent-child talk, and whether parents mediated their children's computer use. Results indicate that while parents offer support and actively play with their children in non-school computer sessions, there is no mediation comparable to that documented in research on families and television. When children have more computer expertise than do their parents, parents exhibit categories of behaviors designed to re-assert their dominance. Results are discussed in terms of differences among computers and other media, and the nature of existing games.