Digital technology in family environment: A case of children from 0 to 6

Abstract

This research aimed to know the practices with technologies of children up to 6 years old in family environment. I have opted for a qualitative methodology, namely the Grounded Theory, as it was my intention not to be based in existent theories, but to create new ideas and theories from observed reality. For that, I undertook semistructured interviews and observations to 15 Portuguese families in their homes. I resorted to a theoretical sampling, that is, I have look for realities where the phenomenon to be studied existed, thus families would have to have, at least, a child with less than 6 years and preferentially an older sibling. During the data collection I observed that children are surrounded by technologies and use them, in a general way, whenever they wish to, including six-month-old babies. They prefer mobile devices, as tablets and smartphones, but they also use computers, televisions and gaming consoles. Gender is decisive in the chosen activities in the devices, with a general independent use by themselves, leading children to master such devices in a way parents and older siblings do not realize.