Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the use of screens in early childhood

Abstract

Objective: To identify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the use of digital screens in early childhood, from the perspective of mothers and education professionals. Method: Qualitative study, based on Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory. Nine mothers of children under three years of age, enrolled in daycare centers in a municipality in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, and six education professionals who worked in these daycare centers participated. The data were collected between July and October 2021 via virtual interviews and analyzed according to inductive thematic analysis. Results: The restrictions imposed by the pandemic made screens the only available resource for children’s educational activities, interaction, leisure, and distraction, causing an exponential increase in the time they spent in front of screens. Conclusion: The pandemic had a direct impact on the use of digital screens in early childhood, increasing the child’s exposure time, according to parents and education professionals.