YOUNG CHILDREN AND SCREEN-TIME: SPANISH RESEARCH GAP AND FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS PROPOSALS

"Nowadays, technology and digital screens have become an essential part of our routine. At the same time, young children are being exposed to these screens at an earlier age. Literature suggests that there is a digital gap between those children who have been trained to use technology critically and effectively and those who have not. Considering the relevance of the topic in developed societies, we will analyze the current national (Spain) and international literature on the issue. The objective of the study is to recognize the needs and weaknesses of Spanish research with the aim to offer an effective data collection tool for future research. The literature review reveals that as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, several new articles have been produced with the aim of analyzing the situation, anticipating possible consequences and providing action strategies and healthy routines for families and schools. On the international scene, during the last 10 years the number of studies about experts' recommendations, health concerns and the benefits of educational Apps has increased consistently. Focusing on national research, most Spanish studies exclude young children (0-6 years) and those who include them, focus on a specific field or analyze a small sample. To cover the research gap from 0-6 years old, we have designed two surveys, one for caregivers and one for preschool teachers. Some semi-structured interviews are also being considered to complement the quantitative data with qualitative information related to the perceptions, experiences, beliefs and practices of parents and teachers. The sample is divided into the main caregivers of young children and early education tutors of preschools in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. To include different socioeconomic status (SES), should be conducted in at least 30 preschool education centers distributed as follows: 10 schools located in low-income neighborhoods, 10 schools located in middle-income neighborhoods and 10 schools located in high-income neighborhoods."