Parents’ Attitudes towards Digital Technology Use in Early Childhood

Abstract

The use of digital technology is significant in improving children's teaching and learning experiences. For their children to experience the enormous advantages of digital technology, parental involvement is deemed crucial. On that note, this study investigates parents' attitudes towards the advantages and disadvantages of digital technology during the early years. Also, this study examines the relationships between family monthly income and the parents' perceptions towards the use of digital technology. Using a simple random sampling technique, a total of 136 completed survey questionnaires were collected from parents whose children enrolled at formal early childhood education institutions in Malaysia. Descriptive analysis, reliability analysis and a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were performed. The finding reveals that parents showed positive attitudes towards the use of digital technology in early childhood. Additionally, the study indicates that family monthly income did not influence the parents' attitudes towards the advantages and disadvantages of digital technology. Future research is suggested to include the involvement of preschool stakeholders in designing and managing educational materials for preschoolers.